Nigeria: NDLEA’s request to detain Abba Kyari and 6 others for 2 weeks was Granted by the Court

By Derrick Bangura.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, presided over by Justice Zainab Dimka Abubakar, has granted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) request to detain embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and six others under investigation for their role in a 25-kilogram cocaine deal for two weeks.

On Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022, the court issued the ruling in response to the anti-narcotics agency’s case, which was defended by its Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Mr. Sunday Joseph.
The Agency had in the application dated 15th February 2022 in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2022 sought the leave of the court to detain the suspects in NDLEA custody for 14 days pending the conclusion of investigation.

Suspects affected by the order include: DCP Abba Kyari; ACP Sunday Ubia; ASP James Bawa; Inspector Simon Agirigba; Inspector John Nuhu; Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, the NDLEA stated that the 6th and 7th respondents (Umeibe and Ezenwanne) confessed upon their arrest in Enugu that they imported the seized cocaine through Addis-Ababa to Enugu on 19th January, 2022.

It further disclosed that “the 1st to 5th respondents (Kyari, Ubia, Bawa, Agirigba and Nuhu) are police officers who carried out the arrest of the 6th and 7th respondents and transferred them to NDLEA for further investigation.
“That investigation by the NDLEA revealed that the 1st to 5th respondents have compromised the whole operation and were involved in the importation, trafficking, and dealing and also tampered with the recovered cocaine.

“That the 1st to 5th respondents have volunteered their statements upon preliminary investigation, which has shown complicity in the case. Copies of statements are hereby attached and marked Annexure NDLEA 4,5,6,7,8, & 9 respectively.
“That the inquiry would take time because there are many aspects to the case that need to be followed up on and unraveled.” That the probe is expected to spread to other countries, where some people linked to transnational drug trafficking are believed to be living.

“In light of the foregoing, the Applicant has applied to the Honourable Court for a 14-day detention order in the first instance to enable it to carry out its investigation satisfactorily.”

Justice Zainab Dimka Abubakar granted the NDLEA’s request and stated that after the 14-day detention order expires, the agency should either seek an extension, file a charge against the suspects, or arraign them in court.
On Monday, February 14th, police officials apprehended Kyari and four other police officers and handed them over to the NDLEA, five hours after the agency had declared him wanted in connection with the drug operation.