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

Published

4 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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Police to arraign alleged fake Presidential Council DG over forgery, impersonation Tuesday

Published

10 minutes ago

July 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Police to arraign alleged fake Presidential Council DG over forgery, impersonation Tuesday

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is set to arraign Adeniyi Adeyemi, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday over allegations of forgery, impersonation and other related offences.

The arraignment follows months of investigation into the activities of the purported council, which the Presidency has described as a fictitious organisation with no legal recognition or executive approval.

According to court documents marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, Adeyemi and two other defendants will face an eight-count charge bordering on forgery, criminal impersonation and other alleged offences.

The charges were filed on November 27, 2025, by police prosecutor Wisdom Madaki.

The case was initially scheduled for hearing on June 16, but proceedings were stalled after Adeyemi was reported to be ill. Consequently, Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter to Tuesday for the defendants to take their pleas.

Court records show that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, is among the prosecution’s key witnesses.

Other witnesses listed by the prosecution include Paul Emmanuel, Jeremiah Imoukhede, Ituah Sylvester, Akimbo Shola, Deputy Superintendent of Police Adamu Balongu, and officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

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Also expected to testify are Ojo Victor, Omeh Amarachukwu, Wakili Saidu, Joy Ngwoke, owner of Kachi Hotel in Abuja, and Ven. Okoriko of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, among others.

The prosecution said it would tender several documents as evidence during the trial, including the police investigation report, a petition allegedly submitted by Gbajabiamila dated October 17, 2025, and what investigators described as a fake presidential appointment letter dated March 8, 2024.

Other documentary exhibits include Adeyemi’s request for a note verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approvals allegedly obtained to open accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), correspondence seeking self-accounting approval from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and documents relating to the establishment and operations of the purported PFIPC.

The prosecution also plans to present letters requesting collaboration with government ministries and agencies for land allocation and office accommodation across Nigeria’s 36 states, statements obtained from witnesses and the defendants, as well as photographic evidence gathered during the investigation.

According to the charge sheet, the prosecution reserves the right to call additional witnesses where necessary to strengthen its case during the trial.

Police investigators alleged that Adeyemi operated the non-existent agency from the second floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, where he allegedly held official meetings, issued correspondence and presented himself as the head of a presidential agency before his arrest.

The case attracted national attention after the Presidency publicly distanced itself from the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, maintaining that no such agency exists within the Federal Government.

Following the revelation, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the alleged organisation and submit its findings within 30 days.

The Presidency said the investigation was aimed at determining how the purported agency operated, identifying possible collaborators and preventing similar incidents capable of undermining public confidence in government institutions.

The case has also raised broader concerns about the activities of individuals allegedly using forged government documents and false official identities to gain access to public institutions, financial systems and unsuspecting members of the public.

Adeyemi and the two other defendants are expected to enter their pleas when the matter comes up before the Federal High Court on Tuesday.

It is important to note that the charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court.

Police to arraign alleged fake Presidential Council DG over forgery, impersonation Tuesday

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Five Years After #EndSARS, LSDPC Restores LASTMA Office, Donates Patrol Vehicles

Published

57 minutes ago

July 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Five Years After #EndSARS, LSDPC Restores LASTMA Office, Donates Patrol Vehicles

The Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) has rebuilt and handed over the Zone 25 office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), alongside two operational vehicles, in a move aimed at strengthening traffic management and public service delivery in Lagos.

This is coming five years after the office was destroyed during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

The reconstructed office, which serves the Bariga and Oworonshoki axis, had remained abandoned since it was razed during the unrest.

Through the intervention, executed under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, LSDPC restored the facility and provided two operational vehicles to enhance LASTMA’s emergency response and traffic management capabilities.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LSDPC, Hon. Ayodeji Joseph, represented by the Executive Director, Business Development and Joint Venture, Mr. Derin Phillips, said the project underscores the corporation’s commitment to supporting public institutions through impactful CSR initiatives.

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He said the intervention reflects LSDPC’s belief that stronger collaboration among government agencies is vital to improving service delivery, adding that well-equipped public institutions are better positioned to meet the needs of Lagos residents.

Receiving the renovated facility and vehicles, the General Manager of LASTMA expressed appreciation to the management of LSDPC for the timely intervention, describing it as a significant boost to the agency’s operations.

He noted that the modernised office would provide a more conducive working environment for officers in Zone 25, while the donated vehicles would improve operational efficiency and enable quicker response to traffic incidents within the Bariga, Oworonshoki and adjoining areas.

LSDPC said it would continue to invest in strategic initiatives that strengthen public institutions, promote inter-agency collaboration and enhance service delivery across Lagos State.

Five Years After #EndSARS, LSDPC Restores LASTMA Office, Donates Patrol Vehicles

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Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

Published

6 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Peter Obi has no police escort — Spokesman replies Keyamo over CCTV video

A fresh controversy has emerged between Peter Obi, the Labour Party‘s 2023 presidential candidate, and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the release of CCTV footage linked to an airport incident involving the former Anambra State governor.

The dispute began after Keyamo released surveillance footage from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which he said showed a vehicle associated with Obi violating airport parking regulations. The minister maintained that the footage contradicted Obi’s recent claim that he had been subjected to intimidation and unfair treatment at Nigerian airports.

However, Zekeri Idris, one of Obi’s spokespersons, has rejected the minister’s position, insisting that the footage released by Keyamo relates to a different incident from the one Obi publicly described during a recent interview.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Idris argued that the minister based part of his response on the mistaken assumption that Obi enjoys official security protection similar to that of serving government officials.

According to him, although Obi is entitled to security as a prominent opposition leader, he currently has no police or Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel attached to him in Abuja.

“Mr. Peter Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him in Abuja, despite being entitled to VVIP protection by virtue of his status as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria. He certainly does not have a police officer serving as his driver.

“Your reference to a ‘police driver’ appears to have been based on the assumption that he enjoys the level of security protection ordinarily accorded to someone of his standing. He does not.”

Idris said he had accompanied Obi on numerous trips across the country and had personally observed what he described as repeated discourteous treatment from some government officials at airports.

He maintained that the CCTV footage published by Keyamo did not capture the same incident Obi referred to during his interview.

“The incident you posted is entirely different from the one Mr. Peter Obi narrated in his interview. In that interview, he clearly stated: ‘I was there…’ In the incident contained in your tweet, he was not present.”

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The spokesman argued that if there were now multiple incidents involving vehicles linked to Obi being clamped at airports, the development could indicate a pattern that deserved closer public scrutiny.

“If we now have at least two separate incidents in which vehicles associated with Mr. Obi were clamped under questionable circumstances, does this not suggest a pattern of targeting an individual simply because of who he is?”

Idris also disputed claims that Obi’s vehicle remained parked for about 30 minutes, insisting that the entire sequence—from the vehicle’s arrival to its eventual clamping—lasted approximately five minutes.

He questioned the basis of the 30-minute claim, noting that many international airports allow vehicles a short window to drop off or pick up passengers before enforcement measures are taken.

“The entire sequence of events you referenced, from arrival to the eventual clamping of the vehicle, lasted approximately five minutes.

“At most airports around the world, including major international airports, a ten-minute drop-off window is generally considered acceptable. Where, then, did the claim of 30 minutes originate?”

The Obi spokesperson further alleged that several other vehicles parked in the same area were not subjected to similar enforcement by airport officials.

According to him, some of those vehicles had been parked before the arrival of the vehicle linked to Obi, yet they were neither clamped nor sanctioned.

He also referenced previous airport controversies involving former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1), questioning why similar official attention, including the release of CCTV footage, was not given to those incidents.

“Where was this same enthusiasm to instigate public outrage and issue official condemnations? Was CCTV footage from those incidents also released, or was the CCTV system only activated when it involved Mr. Peter Obi?” he asked.

The controversy follows Obi’s recent allegation that he had repeatedly experienced intimidation and harassment at Nigerian airports. In response, Keyamo released the CCTV footage, insisting that airport officials merely enforced existing parking regulations and denying any form of political victimisation.

The exchange has continued to generate debate across social media and political circles, with supporters of both men offering contrasting interpretations of the events. While Obi’s camp insists the minister relied on footage from a different incident, the Aviation Ministry maintains that the released video demonstrates that airport officials acted within established operational guidelines.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Peter Obi nor Festus Keyamo had issued any additional statement beyond those already released by their respective camps.