Cocaine saga: Kyari arraigned, as co-defendants admit guilt
The embattled and suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari allegedly involved in a cocaine trafficking was along six others arraigned on Monday before a Federal High Court in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT)
Penpushing reports that, two of Kyari’s co-defendants in the crime, Chibuna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne , however, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).
The accused were brought into the court room around 8am in two batches of four and two, by armed operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and during the mentioned of the case, two co-defendants stunned lawyers and the court audience when they admitted their guilt to counts 5, 6 and 7
Penpushing further reports that, Kyari and four other police officers on their own submission pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge, which is relate to unlawful importation of 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA),it is recalled said the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, was established through investigation that he bargained with the informant of the cocaine trafficking on how to share the proceeds of the alleged crime.
Penpushing also reports that, the Director Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi made this known in a statement, adding that, the alleged principal actor in the shady deal (Kyari) and his police gang members were the ones who directly dealt with a Brazil-based cartel over the cocaine deal.
“It’s an established fact that it’s the Abba Kyari’s team that was contacted by the cartel and without doubt the records clearly show how their ring works. Recall that after NDLEA requested for Kyari and others for interrogation, they were questioned by the police, after which they were handed over along with the report of their interrogation”, Babafemi stated.
Penpushing further reports that, he added that a member of Kyari’s gang, James Bawa, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, during interrogation confirmed his communication with the Brazil-based informant prior the arrival of the drug courier in Nigeria on January 19, 2022.
The spokesman of the agency said Bawa disclosed that he was informed by the Brazil-based informant identified as IK that a drug courier would be arriving on board Ethiopian Airlines in Enugu.
Penpushing also reports that, Babafemi explained that, Bawa confessed that a pointer from IK, the Brazil-based informant met with him at about 2.30p.m. on January 19, January 2022 outside the airport, and showed him a picture of the courier.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) image maker stated that when Kyari was questioned on how his men operates at the airport, said some of them will stay outside, while others stay inside, and thereafter effected arrest
‘Yes, yes, some are outside while some are inside. They will just allow you to finish arrival formalities and arrest you the moment you come out’, the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police was quoted saying
Penpushing also reports that, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said without doubt, it was glaring and established during investigation who the cartel was relating with and their modus operandi.
“The above no doubt establishes who the cartel was relating with and their modus operandi. Again, this is to correct inaccuracies in some reports and assure that the Agency will not deviate from an evidence-based investigation that will spare nobody found complicit’, Babafemi emphasised.
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