Cocaine Saga: Kyari, six others are back in court on drug trafficking charges

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has summoned suspended police officer Abba Kyari and six others to answer drug trafficking-related charges brought against them.

The NDLEA charged Mr Kyari with eight counts of hard drug trafficking. He is also wanted in the United States for his relationship with convicted fraudster Ramon ‘Hushpuppi’ Abbas.

Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe, and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne are among those charged alongside Mr Kyari.

Mr. Kyari was a former Deputy Commissioner of Police before his suspension.

Earlier, the once celebrated cop pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him, however, two of his co-defendants pleaded guilty to parts of the drug trafficking charges brought against them.

The defendants, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, made their plea at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Both men, who were the only civilians arraigned in connection with Kyari’s cocaine saga, were ordered to be remanded in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) till when the application for their bail would be heard.

Kyari’s bail plea was also previously denied, and as investigations intensified, the NDLEA was able to nab a suspected billionaire drug baron linked to the N3 billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled officer who was leader of Nigeria’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT).