The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has distanced its operatives from the 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang of policemen headed by a suspended deputy police commissioner, Abba Kyari.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Wednesday, criticized the claim that agency officials at Enugu airport were the ones who received information about the mule bringing the illegal substance from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The claim about the involvement of NDLEA operatives in the scam was released by police in a statement on Monday.
However, without referring directly to the police statement, Babafemi criticized the claim which he described as inaccurate on Wednesday.
Contrary to claims, Babafemi said investigations had so far revealed that Kyari and members of his police gang were the ones dealing directly with a Brazil-based cartel over the cocaine trade.
According to the NDLEA, “it is an established fact that it is Abba Kyari’s team that was contacted by the cartel and no doubt the records clearly show how their ring works.”
‘How Abba Kyari’s gang made deals with the drug lord’
“Remember that after the NDLEA requested that Kyari and others be questioned, they were questioned by the police, after which they were handed over along with their interrogation report,” Mr. Babafemi said in explaining how his agency established the gang. led by Mr. Kyari in the drug business.
He explained that a member of Mr. Kyari’s gang, James Bawa, confirmed his communication with the Brazil-based informant prior to the drug courier’s arrival in Nigeria on January 19, 2022.
Citing a portion of the police investigation report, Mr. Babafemi said that Mr. Bawa, deputy superintendent of police, confirmed in his documented statement that he was informed by the Brazil-based informant identified as IK that a drug courier would arrive. aboard Ethiopian Airlines. in Enugu.
He said that Mr. Bawa further explained that a pointer from IK, the Brazil-based whistleblower, met him around 2:30 p.m. on January 19, 2022 outside the airport and showed him a photo of the courier.
“Subsequently, the suspect was seen leaving the airport terminal after all arrival clearance formalities, and was arrested with another associate.”
In portions of Mr. Kyari’s conversation with the NDLEA undercover operative shared by Mr. Babafemi, the previously notorious police officers detailed their involvement in arranging cocaine trafficking with the informant in Brazil.
Mr. Kyari, according to excerpts provided by the NDLEA, also gave details of how he negotiated with the informant about sharing the proceeds of the alleged crime.
“Responding to our officer’s question as to whether his boys are usually parked inside or outside the airport, Abba Kyari said: ‘Yes, yes, some are outside and some are inside. They will simply allow you to finish the arrival formalities and arrest you the moment you leave.
“The foregoing undoubtedly establishes with whom the cartel was related and its modus operandi. Again, this is to correct inaccuracies in some reports and to ensure that the Agency does not deviate from an evidence-based investigation that will prevent anyone from being complicit.
The NDLEA statement was presented as a counter-narrative to the statement by police authorities that, on Monday, accused the agency’s agents in the cocaine business.
Bottom
Announcing the arrest of Mr. Kyari and others in a statement on Monday, police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said “the two arrested drug couriers also confirmed that they have been enjoying this relationship with the NDLEA officers.” at Enugu Airport from 2021.
Adejobi added that “in this current case” of January 19, 2021, the couriers had been identified and authorized by NDLEA officials as usual.
He said the authorization of the NDLEA operatives was based on the “pre-departure photographs and other details” of the couriers they had received prior to the cartel’s arrival in Enugu.
The couriers, according to the police, “were leaving with the narcotics when they were stopped by the police.”
They also called on the NDLEA president to “ensure the identification, arrest and investigation of agency officials who have also been found to be in collusion with the international drug cartel involved in this case to advance the counternarcotics agenda.” of the federal government”.
advertisements
But the NDLEA dismissed the accusation of collusion by its operatives, though it made no direct reference to the police statement on Wednesday.
Mr. Babafemi shared in his statement excerpts from Mr. Kyari’s recorded conversation with an NDLEA agent, as well as the statement of a certain James Bawa who belongs to the police gang in an effort to “correct some inaccuracies in the information in public space”.
“The National Drug Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said that it has no reason to protect anyone who could be charged in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang headed by DCP Abba Kyari.
“The agency, in a statement on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, said that it remains committed to the evidence-based investigation and that its determination cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of the facts.”
Police had previously charged Mr. Kyari, who had been suspended for alleged involvement in a fraud case involving a former Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abass, also known as Huspuppi, who was being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
They said that Mr. Kyari’s involvement in the recent indictment occurred while he was still on suspension from duty.
On Monday, the police handed over the officers involved in the cocaine deal to the NDLEA.
They include Abba Kyari, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sunday Ubuah, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bawa James, Deputy Superintendent of Police; Simon Agrigba, inspector, and John Nuhu. John Umoru was said to be at large.
Read the full NDLEA statement
20kg cocaine investigation: We have no reason to protect anyone – NDLEA
…Reveals more details about drug business
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said it has no reason to protect anyone who could be charged in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang headed by DCP Abba Kyari.
The Agency in a statement on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, said that it remains committed to evidence-based investigation and that its determination cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of the facts.
To correct some inaccuracies in the information in the public domain that the NDLEA officers at the Enugu airport were the ones who received the details about the mule coming from Addis Ababa from the cartel, the Agency wishes to cite the transcript of the recorded conversation of Abba Kyari with our undercover officer and a portion of ASP James Bawa’s statement to the police as documented in the police investigation report, a copy of which was made available to the Agency, to state that it is an established fact that it is Abba Kyari’s team that was contacted by the cartel and no doubt the records clearly show how their ring works. Remember that after the NDLEA requested that Kyari and others be questioned, they were questioned by the police, after which they were handed over along with their interrogation report.
According to the police investigation report, ASP James Bawa in his statement to the police reveals that “he was called by an informant identified as IK from Brazil who told him that a drug courier will arrive on board Ethiopian Airlines in Enugu. He further explained that a pointer from IK, the Brazil-based informant, met him around 2:20 p.m. on January 19, 2022 outside the airport and showed him a photo of the courier. Subsequently, the suspect was seen as he was leaving the airport terminal after all arrival clearance formalities, and he was arrested with another associate.”
In his own recorded conversation with our undercover officer, Abba Kyari also said the following: “They are greedy, seriously greedy (referring to their informants), we tried to get them to accept 40% but they refused, except 50%, they know the rudiment of the deal very well, they are the ones who do the packaging. From Brazil, one of the informants accompanied him to Ethiopia. You understand; one of the informants accompanied the merchandise to Ethiopia, one of the informants who gives us information. He is the son of the great baron.
“Addis, since Addis will be given to those who continue with him, he will get their snapshots without their knowledge. Yes, he will reveal those who transmit it the most, he will get snapshots of them without his knowledge and send them to us (to Abba Kyari’s team). So we already know the products, the image and the fabrics they wear, I hope you understand, we know your name, he will give us everything. So automatically my team will just be waiting, they’ll just see him and arrest him.”
Responding to our officer’s question as to whether his boys are usually stationed inside or outside the airport, Abba Kyari said, “Yes, yes, some are outside and some are inside. They will simply allow you to finish the arrival formalities and arrest you the moment you leave.”
The foregoing undoubtedly establishes with whom the cartel was related and its modus operandi. Again, this is to correct inaccuracies in some reports and to ensure that the Agency does not deviate from an evidence-based investigation that will prevent anyone from being complicit.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy,
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja,
Wednesday, February 16, 2022.