By Gideon Njoku
Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has opened a Pandora Box. Kyari has been in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, since February 14 after he was declared wanted by the Angency and arrested by the Police.
The NDLEA had accused Kyari of not only being involved in Drug running, but of trying to bribe its personnel to the tune of $61,000 over a 25kg cocaine brought into Nigeria.
These sordid facts were disclosed by the NDLEA at a Press Conference in Abuja, with video evidence.
But Kyari has dismissed all that as a bundle of lies. He says he is a victim of a frame-up. He said he met the NDLEA officer to tell him to pay commission to the informants of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, as was agreed and promised the whistle-blowers.
He claimed that NDLEA personnel were working closely with Drug Barons, allowing them pass through the Airports, and even escorting them to their destinations.
In the instant case, for example, Kyari said the Drug Baron, to the knowledge of NDLEA operatives at the Enugu Airport, has been bringing in cocaine from Ethiopia, and being escorted by NDLEA personnel.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, supported by an affidavit sworn to by his younger brother, Muhammad Nur Usman, Kyari alleged that NDLEA officers usually gave the suspect clearance, and escorted him from the airport to his destination.
Kyari said he was publicly disgraced and humiliated by the NDLEA, without anybody hearing his own side of the story. He is, therefore, demanding for the sum of N500m from the Federal Government, and a written apology to be published in two National Newspapers.
The affidavit states:
“That on that fateful day, the suspect, as usual, shipped drugs (cocaine) from Ethiopia to Enugu airport. The officer of NDLEA cleared him within the airport, then officers of FIB-IRT arrested the suspect with the help of information.
“That before the informant accepted to work with the officers of FIB-IRT, they both had an agreement to compensate the informant.
“That officers of FIB-IRT having noticed that officers of NDLEA were the ones clearing the said suspect with his drugs (cocaine), they immediately took the suspect to NDLEA and also reported those officers involved in the act.
“That instead of the NDLEA to handle the matter, accordingly, and bring their officers involved to book, they decided to frustrate the informant, thereby refusing to compensate the informant.
“That it was at this juncture that the attention of the DCP Abba Kyari was called, whom because the NDLEA officer involved is his friend, decided to intervene for the purpose of compensating the informant.
“That the NDLEA officer who refused to compensate the informant was the one who framed DCP Abba Kyari up on a trump-up allegation that he was trying to bribe him.
“That the agent of the respondent (NDLEA) declared the applicant wanted because of a mere allegation that he was trying to bribe an NDLEA officer without sufficient proof.
“That the Nigerian Police Force, based on the allegation of the respondent, arrested the applicant on the 12th day of February, 2022, and handed over to the NDLEA.”
“That the applicant is a decent Police Officer who has distinguished himself in areas of serving his father’s land as a Police Officer.
“That the applicant needs to be compensated and not to be dragged about, receiving torture, degrading and inhuman treatment by anybody or agency whatsoever.
“That there is no sufficient proof that the applicant has committed any offence to warrant this torture, degrading and inhuman treatment.”
Kyari said based on the above, he has been humiliated. He is asking the Court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
He is also asking to be released on administrative bail based on his deteriorating health. He said he suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, and has not had his medication since his detention.
He said he would not jump bail, and asks that the Federal Government and its agents be restrained from harassing him.
To compensate him for the humiliation he has gone through, he is asking for the sum of N500m, and a public apology from the Federal Government. He insists he was disgraced without any prima facie case established against him.
The Hon Justice Inyang Ekwo, rejected his bail application brought under an exparte motion by his Counsel, and said that the Respondents need to be aware.
He adjourned hearing to February 24, 2022.
