Update: NDLEA Releases Video Evidence Against Abba Kyari

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has released a footage evidence against the embattled police officer, Abba Kyari who is accused of being a member of a transnational drug ring.

Earlier, the NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, narrated that Kyari belonged to a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline.

Babafemi subsequently declared that Kyari had been placed on a wanted list over his alleged involvement in illicit drug deals.

The agency would later release a video evidence against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). In the video, Kyari is seen negotiating with an NDLEA agent. Though the conversation between the duo cannot be heard clearly, the NDLEA alleged that Kyari during the meeting offered to bribe its agent to facilitate the release of some seized drugs.

Babafemi who recounted how the incident played out said Kyari allegedly initiated a call to one of its agent on January 22, 2022 and offered to pay a total sum of $61,400 to clear 25kg cocaine.

In his words, “The saga started on Friday, January 21, 2022, when DCP Kyari initiated a call to one of the NDLEA officers in Abuja at 2:12 pm. 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 Juma’at service.

“He appeared at the agreed venue of the meeting with the officer and went straight to the crux of the matter. This was it: His team had intercepted and arrested some traffickers that came into the country from Ethiopia with, according to him, 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: 05 am 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 he 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 N7m per kilogram, the proceed from the 5kg would amount to N35m, at the exchange rate of N570 per dollar being the black market rate for the day, January 24, 2022. In effect, he would be delivering $61, 400 to the NDLEA team.

“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. And the moment was documented, part of which I will play for you at the end of this Briefing.”