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Cocaine Scandal: Heads To Roll As NDLEA Remands Kyari, Others

Published

5 years ago

February 15, 2022

More senior police operatives and other security agents would be arrested following the detention of DCP Abba Kyari, the suspended commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force, over drug-related offences, credible sources said Monday.

Kyari was on Monday declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for selling cocaine consignment seized by IRT operatives from drug barons at the Enugu airport in January this year.

His involvement in the deal had raised questions in many quarters considering that he was under suspension last year because of his involvement in other criminal activities.

Our sources said yesterday that there was a “high profile complicity” in the latest incident involving the widely celebrated super cop who the NDLEA said has strong ties with cross-border drug barons using his position in the police as cover.

“Serious infractions have been established against Kyari in relation to drug crimes but the matter was being foot dragged at the police headquarters in Abuja and commands in some states.

“People would be picked in other high profile places because the secret has been busted,” one of our sources said.

“The investigation of Kyari on the latest and other pending issues were being deliberately delayed by powerful forces because beyond the suspended deputy commissioner of police and the few officers whose names have been mentioned, there are some senior officers that are directly involved and they know they would be implicated, hence the tactical delay and needless technicalities in handling the matter,” he said.

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Daily Trust reports that the latest scandal involving the suspended Kyari came to the fore on Monday, a few hours after the super cop was declared wanted by the NDLEA over his involvement in a 25 kilograms cocaine deal.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has already handed him over to the NDLEA. Daily Trust reports that the arrest of Kyari dominated discussion at the Force Headquarters Abuja yesterday.

Before Monday’s development, the issue of the drug deal involving him and the NDLEA operatives was only known to the top echelon of the NPF, who were in receipt of the communication by the anti-drug agency.

It was gathered that the issue was discussed in hush tones by both officers and rank and file of the force on Monday.

Meanwhile, while his fans in the police force expressed shock and disbelief, those who have been questioning his conduct said they saw it coming.

One of the officers told Daily Trust that the arrest and subsequent handover of Kyari to NDLEA for probe had caused serious confusion in the force.

“It is an institutional indictment. In the police force, especially among us the junior officers we see Oga Kyari as a role model in view of the various breakthroughs he had made in the arrest of criminals across the country.

“The drug thing happened while we are waiting to see how the Hushpuppi scandal will end,” the officer told one of our reporters last night.

Another police officer said the deal between Kyari and the NDLEA was not unusual.

“This is not unusual. Seized items are sold including hemp and other drugs. It is you people that are expressing shock. There are bad elements in both the police, NDLEA and other security agencies, especially at our airports,” he said.

Kyari, others spent night in NDLEA cell

Our correspondents learnt that DCP Kyari and others will spend the night in NDLEA cells as the agency drilled them over the level of their complicity in the illegal drug deal.

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In a statement on Monday, the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said five of the wanted suspects – DCP Kyari,

ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu – were driven into the anti-drug agency’s headquarters at about 5pm to formally hand them over for interrogation and further investigation.

“The agency wishes to assure that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that all suspects already in custody and those that may still be indicted in the course of investigation will face the full weight of the law at the end of the ongoing probe,” he said.

Babafemi had, earlier at a press conference Monday, said an investigation revealed that the celebrated Kyari is a member of a drug syndicate that operates across the globe.

He said the NDLEA took the decision to declare Kyari wanted after all efforts to get him to honour formal invitations for interrogation failed.

“With the intelligence at our disposal, the agency believes strongly that DCP Kyari is a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline, and he needs to answer questions that crop up in an ongoing drug case in which he is the principal actor.

“His failure to cooperate forced the hand of the agency and that is the reason for this press briefing,” Babafemi said.

How Kyari was found wanting

According to Babafemi, the tracking of Kyari started on Friday, January 21, 2022, when he (Kyari) initiated a call to one of the NDLEA officers in Abuja at 2:12pm.

He said when the officer returned the call two minutes later, Kyari informed him he was coming to see him, to discuss an operational matter after the weekly Friday prayer service.

“Kyari appeared at the agreed venue of the meeting with the officer and went straight to the crux of the matter. This officer had intercepted and arrested some traffickers that came into the country from Ethiopia with 25kg of cocaine.

“He proposed a drug deal whereby he and his team are to take 15kg of the cocaine and leave 10kg for the prosecution of the suspects arrested with the illicit drug in Enugu.

“In the meantime, the purloined cocaine will be replaced with a dummy worth 15kg. He asked the NDLEA officer to persuade men of the FCT Command, to play along as well.

“By 11:05am on Monday, January 24, after the agency gave the officer the green light to play along, he and Kyari began a WhatsApp call for the rest of the day. The officer conveyed their willingness to play the game.

“At this point, Kyari disclosed that the 15kg (already taken out) was shared between the informants that provided information for the seizure and himself and his men of the IRT of the Nigerian Police.

“According to him, the informants were given 7kg while his team took 8kg which was already sold.

“He then offered to pay the NDLEA team (that is the officer and the FCT commander) by selling, on their behalf, half of the remaining 10kg, thereby further reducing the original cocaine for the prosecution to just 5kg.

“At N7 million per kilogram, the proceed from the 5kg would amount to N35m, based on the exchange rate of N570 per dollar being the black market rate for the day, January 24, 2022.

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“In effect, he would be delivering $61,400 to the NDLEA team,” Babafemi said.

He said Kyari put pressure on NDLEA officer to wrap up the arrangement with the commander of the FCT Command to take custody of the drug and suspects from his men who were on the ground in Abuja.

He said at the time, Kyari was speaking from Lagos, where he allegedly travelled for private business.

He said, “The next day, January 25, Kyari offered to send his younger brother to deliver the payment while his men deliver the suspects, but our officer turned down the suggestion, insisting he would rather deal with him in person and was therefore prepared to wait for him to return from Lagos.

“And by 5:23pm, Kyari was in Abuja and met with the officer at the same rendezvous they had the first meeting.

“In their discussion, he disclosed how his team received the information from a double-crosser who betrayed the traffickers to him, showing a sordid connection between law enforcement agents and the drug underworld.

“He narrated how, acting on the tip-off, his team departed Abuja to Enugu and arrested the traffickers, removed part of the consignment on his instruction and replaced same with dummies.

“He also brought with him the money from the sale of the 5kg share of the NDLEA team, a total of $61,400.

“Our officer, however, preferred to take the

money inside his car. Well, the car was wired with sound and video recorders,” he said.

NDLEA operatives complicit – Police

In what appeared like firing back at NDLEA, the Nigeria Police Force said Mon

day that Kyari was not alone in the deal.

Acting spokesman of the force, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, in a statement said the arrest of Kyari and others was sequel to discreditable, unethical and unprofessional conduct, official corruption and tampering with exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a perpetual transnational drug cartel.

“The interim investigations report revealed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on the 19th of January, 2022 upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.

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“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).”

The spokesman also stated that beyond that, the police investigation also established that the international narcotics cartel involved in this case has strong ties with some officers of the NDLEA at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu who are on their payroll.

“The two arrested drug couriers also confirmed that they have been enjoying this relationship with the NDLEA officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport since 2021 and had in this instant case of 19th January, 2022, been identified and cleared by the NDLEA officers as customary, having received their pre-departure photographs and other details prior to their arrival in Enugu, and were on their way out with the narcotics when they were apprehended by the police,” he said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had recently said there were reasonable grounds to subject Kyari to trial for his alleged involvement in a multi-million dollar fraud spearheaded by Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi.

The US government had in July 2021, unveiled the charges against Kyari and other alleged co-conspirators and sought his extradition.

Kyari could be tried simultaneously – Prof Yadudu

A constitutional lawyer, Prof Auwalu Yadudu, told Daily Trust that the issues around Kyari (extradition and NDLEA case) were distinct and would be treated accordingly.

On which should take priority in the cases, Yadudu, a former Legal Adviser to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, said he was aware that Nigeria and US have a memorandum of understanding to assist one another “but the decision on what to do, whether to proceed with the extradition or to try him here will be a matter for the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Director of Public Prosecutions – to determine which one.”

Also, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) said there was no law in Nigeria that said a police officer who committed an offence outside his regular duties would be made to go through departmental orderly room trial or disciplinary procedure.

“The duty of the police is to have him transferred to the NDLEA without waste of time,” he said.

Similarly, a former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), said Kyari is like any other ordinary citizen in the eyes of the law because the accusation occurred outside the duties of the police.

“So, his institution has no role to play,” he said.

Daily Trust

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Tension in Kano as Phone Traders Confront Chinese Sellers Over Cheaper Phones

Published

3 hours ago

October 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Tension in Kano as Phone Traders Confront Chinese Sellers Over Cheaper Phones

Phone traders in Kano State have confronted Chinese nationals accused of selling mobile phones directly to consumers at lower prices, reigniting concerns over foreign competition and the survival of local retail businesses in Nigeria.

The confrontation, reportedly captured in a video circulating on social media on Saturday, October 10, 2026, saw aggrieved traders challenge a Chinese national over alleged direct sales in a local market.

In the footage, some traders warned the foreign sellers against continuing the disputed business activities, insisting that their presence and pricing practices were undermining local dealers.

The traders alleged that Chinese sellers were bypassing established distribution channels by selling phones directly to consumers rather than supplying Nigerian retailers, who traditionally buy from importers and wholesalers before reselling to the public.

They argued that foreign suppliers with direct access to manufacturers could offer lower prices, making it difficult for local dealers to compete and maintain their businesses.

The traders expressed concern that the alleged practice could reduce their sales, threaten jobs and undermine the livelihoods of people who depend on the mobile phone retail business.

However, the circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain unclear. The identities of those involved, the precise location of the incident and whether any formal complaint was filed have not been independently established. There was also no confirmed information about arrests or police intervention.

The Kano dispute comes amid growing tensions between Nigerian traders and Chinese business operators over the boundaries between wholesale distribution and direct retail sales.

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A similar disagreement emerged in September at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, where members of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association of Nigeria (ASPMDA) protested against what they described as direct retail activities by Chinese business operators.

The Lagos traders alleged that some foreign businesses were selling goods directly to consumers, putting local retailers at a disadvantage because of differences in purchasing power, supply chains and access to manufacturers.

The disagreement prompted discussions involving market representatives, the trade fair management board and security officials, who sought to prevent the dispute from escalating.

During efforts to resolve the Lagos disagreement, stakeholders called for clearer rules defining the respective roles of wholesalers and retailers. Representatives of the Chinese business community also indicated that businesses found engaging in prohibited activities should be reported for appropriate action.

The dispute has since highlighted wider concerns about foreign investment, fair competition and the protection of Nigerian small businesses.

Local traders argue that they need a level playing field to compete with businesses that source products directly from manufacturers. They also want authorities to clarify the conditions under which foreign operators can participate in Nigeria’s retail sector.

However, selling products at lower prices does not automatically establish wrongdoing. Determining whether a business has breached the law requires evidence of the relevant activities and the regulations governing its operations.

Consumers, meanwhile, may benefit from lower prices and greater choice when competition increases. The challenge for regulators is to ensure that competition remains lawful and fair while protecting consumers and supporting sustainable local enterprise.

The Kano confrontation has renewed calls for government agencies and market authorities to clarify Nigeria’s foreign trade and retail regulations, investigate credible complaints and provide mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes peacefully.

Authorities will also need to ensure that disagreements over business practices do not lead to intimidation, threats or violence against traders of any nationality.

For now, the central issue remains whether the alleged direct sales in Kano violate applicable regulations or market rules. An official response clarifying the circumstances of the incident would help establish the facts and determine whether further action is necessary.

Tension in Kano as Phone Traders Confront Chinese Sellers Over Cheaper Phones

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EFCC Wins ₦132m Money Laundering Case as Court Orders Forfeiture of Lagos Properties

Published

21 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos-based businessman Onatayo Pelumi

EFCC Wins ₦132m Money Laundering Case as Court Orders Forfeiture of Lagos Properties

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Lagos-based businessman Onatayo Pelumi over alleged money laundering involving approximately ₦132 million, with the Federal High Court in Lagos ordering the forfeiture of two properties and ₦8 million to the Federal Government.

Justice Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, convicted Pelumi on five counts relating to the retention of proceeds of unlawful activities in bank accounts maintained with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Zenith Bank.

According to the EFCC, the charges covered various sums allegedly retained in the accounts between January 2023 and June 2026, despite the defendant’s knowledge that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

The commission did not provide further details about the specific unlawful activities from which the money was allegedly derived.

In his judgment, Justice Osiagor sentenced Pelumi to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine, on the first count.

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For each of the remaining four counts, the court imposed five years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine per count.

However, the judge directed that all the prison terms run concurrently, meaning they are served at the same time rather than consecutively.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of two half-plots of land in Lagos and ₦8 million held in Pelumi’s Zenith Bank account to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The properties covered by the forfeiture order are a half-plot of land at No. 23 Michael Ayorinde Street, Abule-Egba, and another half-plot at No. 1 Yisa Street, Meiran, both in Lagos State.

In addition to the prison sentences and forfeiture orders, Pelumi was directed to undertake seven days of community service.

The conviction followed prosecution by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 as part of its efforts to investigate and prosecute financial crimes involving the retention of funds linked to unlawful activities.

The case also highlights the commission’s use of asset-forfeiture proceedings to recover money and property connected to financial crime cases.

The EFCC did not disclose additional details about the source of the funds beyond the allegations contained in the five-count charge.

EFCC Wins ₦132m Money Laundering Case as Court Orders Forfeiture of Lagos Properties

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Hardship: ACF Gives Tinubu Three Months to Deliver Relief, Demands Clear Timelines

Published

21 hours ago

October 10, 2026

Trends Admin

ACF’s Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba

Hardship: ACF Gives Tinubu Three Months to Deliver Relief, Demands Clear Timelines

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce measures to ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians within three months, while demanding clear timelines and measurable targets for improving living conditions.

The forum said the Federal Government should move beyond repeated assurances that economic conditions would improve and provide specific commitments showing when Nigerians could begin to experience meaningful relief.

The ACF’s Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, made the call during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, October 8, 2026, according to media reports.

Mohammed-Baba said the administration needed to be more transparent about the effects of its economic reforms and acknowledge areas where the outcomes had fallen short of expectations.

He argued that government policies should be assessed not only by their stated objectives but also by their effects on households, businesses and the wider population.

The ACF spokesman cited the rising cost of living, declining purchasing power, increasing rents, higher transportation expenses and electricity bills as some of the pressures confronting Nigerians. He also identified poor road infrastructure and persistent insecurity as challenges affecting citizens’ welfare.

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According to him, the government should explain how it intends to address these problems and establish clear benchmarks against which its performance can be measured.

Mohammed-Baba called on the Tinubu administration to outline what it expects to achieve within one, two and three years, arguing that measurable targets would enable Nigerians to assess progress rather than rely solely on official assurances.

He also urged the government to acknowledge the difficulties associated with its economic policies and communicate more openly with citizens about the challenges and expected outcomes.

The ACF spokesman maintained that the government should not expect Nigerians to endure prolonged hardship without a clear indication of when relief measures would take effect.

He said three months should be enough for the administration to introduce measures capable of reducing some of the immediate pressures on households, even if broader economic recovery would require more time.

The forum also called for greater accountability from political leaders, arguing that the sacrifices demanded of citizens should be matched by a commitment from public officials to responsible governance and improved service delivery.

Mohammed-Baba’s comments add to the ongoing debate over the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly the pressure that higher living costs have placed on households and small businesses.

The government has defended its reforms as necessary to address longstanding economic challenges. However, the ACF’s position underscores the need for clear communication about the expected benefits of the policies and practical measures to cushion their immediate effects.

On the 2027 general elections, Mohammed-Baba said the ACF would assess political parties and candidates based on their commitment to good governance, accountability, anti-corruption, equity and fairness.

He said the forum’s position would be guided by the quality of leadership and the ability of political actors to promote responsible governance rather than automatic support for any particular political party.

The ACF’s central demand is for the Federal Government to establish clear deadlines, measurable objectives and practical steps for reducing hardship, enabling Nigerians to judge progress by tangible improvements in their daily lives.