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Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, who was arraigned on Monday following a drug trafficking charge preferred against him and six others by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has pleaded with the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja not to remand him in prison custody.
Those arrainged along with Mr Kyari include Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
Kyari made the appeal through his lawyer, Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN.
He begged the court to allow him remained remanded in the custody of the NDLEA pending the hearing and determination of his fresh application for bail.
When the eight-count charge was read to Kyari, who is also wanted in the United States for his relationship with the convicted fraudster, Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abass, he pleaded not guilty.
According to the NDLEA, Kyari, between January 19 and 25, dealt in 17.55 kilograms of cocaine. He is also being charged with obstruction of justice and attempted bribery of NDLEA officers.
Recall that the NDLEA had said it initially invited Kyari for questioning since concluding its investigation but the suspended police chief was yet to respond.
The police later arrested Kyari and four other police officers for their involvement in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, discreditable, unethical, and unprofessional conduct, official corruption and tampering with exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a transnational drug cartel.
Police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said an interim investigations report showed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on January 19, 2022, upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.
“The arrest led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two narcotic couriers. The operation, which was intelligence-driven, was undertaken by a Unit of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT),” Adejobi said.