A National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) crack team is currently investigating a new drug scandal involving suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kari and members of his Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
According to sources, the investigation revolved around the seizure of a tramadol shipment worth N3 billion in a warehouse in Lagos State.
The illegal drug was said to have been imported into Nigeria by an individual posing as a pharmacist, but it was seized by IRT members who caught wind of it.
Abba Kyari’s team did not report the alleged seizure to the NDLEA, which occurred last year, the source added.
“I can tell you that the agency is currently investigating the matter. From available information, it means that the IRT may have sold the consignment. But like I said, our investigation will get to the root of the case.”
On Monday, February 14, the NDLEA declared Kyari wanted for aiding and abetting drug trafficking and running his own cartel.
The Nigerian Police Force handed over suspended DCP Abba Kyari and four others to the anti-narcotics agency for questioning five hours after the declaration.
The suspects had been in the agency’s custody since Monday, well past the constitutional time limit for charging an accused person in court.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja will rule today on some of the NDLEA’s applications, including one seeking an extension of time, which was filed on Thursday by the agency’s lawyers.
The motion for accelerated hearing is to fast track the determination of the preliminary issues which are condition precedent for the official filing of charges against the suspects.
Others to be charged alongside Kyari are ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu.
Besides the application for the abridgement of time, the agency has equally filed an application seeking a warrant to detain the suspects in its facility beyond the statutory period of 48 hours.
The 1999 Nigerian Constitution clearly states that persons arrested or detained shall be brought before a court within a “reasonable time”.
According to the constitution, the reasonable time means a period of 24 hours when a court of competent jurisdiction is within a radius of 40 kilometres to the police station or a period of two days in any other case.
This implies that the detention of arrested suspects for more than 48 hours without being charged to court is against the provisions of the constitution.
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