Crime
REVEALED: Super cop, Abba Kyari was set up by trusted allies in NDLEA
By Paul Eso
Certainly, the last is yet to be heard of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, over his alleged involvement in illicit drug dealings.
Kyari’s case can be likened to ‘dog chop dog’ situation in Nigeria, that has led to an inter-agency rivalry.
DCP Abba Kyari
Recent findings have revealed that Kyari was set up by close and trusted allies in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, because he was too influential in the police force.
The highly decorated officer was arrested on February 14 for drug peddling along with four other officers – Sunday Ubuah, Bawa James, Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu – following a “high-level discreet” investigation.
Kyari’s arrest came hours after Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) declared him a wanted man, accusing him of being “a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline”.
Read also ‘Why NDLEA destroyed N194 billion cocaine seized in Ikorodu warehouse’
Report says the suspended DCP asked a colleague to help him siphon off part of a cocaine haul and he was caught on camera handing over $61,400 (£45,400) in cash.
Before his arrest, he had already been suspended for allegedly helping self-avowed fraudster, Hushpuppi, to launder money in the US.
He was said to be using his massive influence in the police to divert seized drugs from suspects, and reselling the drugs to other drug dealers.
Instead of handing over seized drugs to NDLEA as mandated by law, our sources said Kyari diverted the drugs he and his IRT men seizes from drugs suspects, kill the case, & resell the drugs to other dealers for huge sums of money.
This, it was gathered, didn’t go well with unscrupulous elements in the NDLEA who believed that he was using his police influence and closeness to powers to divert their ‘choppings’.
But the supper cop also has his own reasons of not handing over seized drugs to NDLEA officials. According to our findings, some staff of the anti-drug agency was in the habit of reselling seized drugs to other dealers.
It was gathered that Kyari has arrested suspects in the past, who have confessed to these claims. This infuriated him to start selling seized drugs, rather than hand them over to the NDLEA officials, unless the agency knows or hears about the arrest/seizure, before Kyari would hand surrender to the appropriate authority.
The fall of Kyari confirmed that most of security agents in Nigeria, are working for their personal pockets, rather than fighting real crime. They were said to have been emboldened because there was no consequence for wrong doing under the present government.
Our source who understands the workings of security agencies, cited the recent destruction of the 1.8 tons of cocaine seized in a Lagos warehouse on September 18, by the NDLEA as an example.
“For example, how do we explain this latest actions of NDLEA? They hurriedly destroyed 194 billion naira worth of seized cocaine in their custody, in less than two weeks after seizure. Those who know, know that a lot of things must have played out.
“A huge chunk of those sized drugs will finds it’s way back into the society, through some of those corrupt big boys in NDLEA, and their cronies, leaving lots of questions begging for answers.
“Was there an investigation to ascertain the true owners of the drugs. Was there further arrest after the seizure? Why the hurry by NDLEA to destroy this particular seizure, when there are lots and lots of old seized drugs in their custody? Who are they trying to protect.
“If you ask police officers who work under Abba Kyari in IRT, or those very close to him, they will attest to this claim. Corrupt NDLEA officials after seizing hard drugs, often divert huge chunks of it, to resell to other standby drug dealers.”
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has condemned in strong terms the setting ablaze of some suspected kidnappers by residents of a community in Uromi, East North East Local Government Area.
Describing the act as barbaric and condemn-able, the Governor represented by the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Government House, SP Solomon Osaghale, vowed to ensure that the perpetuators are brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He stressed that such a barbaric act is strange in our climes and will not be tolerated in the State.
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SP Osaghale said he was in Uromi at the instance of the Governor to ascertain the level of damage done and to ensure that prompt and full investigation was carried out to ensure justice so as to forestall a reoccurrence.
He revealed that investigations have shown that the people who were killed had boarded a commercial truck and was stopped by members of local security who upon searching of the vehicle, discovered some guns, a situation that led to the mob attack by persons around the vicinity.
While condemning the act, he restated that nobody had the right to take another man’s life, stressing that the nature of the barbaric killing was a cause of concern to the Governor.
SP Oseghale said, “His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo on getting the news of this incident, directed me to immediately come here and find out what transpired as the news of what happened here is a sign of worry to our Governor whose desire is to create a prosperous State void of dastardly acts like this.
“I can assure you that the people involved in this unprovoked attacked will not go scot -free, as His Excellency has directed the Commissioner of Police to launch a full scale investigation into the matter. As I speak now, over four persons have been arrested for their involvement in this ugly incidence.”
The CSO called for calm, while assuring the law abiding residents of Uromi, especially the Hausa Community in the area to go about their daily activities, as men of the Nigerian police force and other security agencies have been deployed to restore peace and normalcy to the place.
Appreciating the Governor for his swift response, the leader of the Hausa Community in Uromi, Mal Aliyu Haruna, thanked Governor Okpebholo for deploying the CSO and other security personnel to the community.
Haruna acknowledged that their presence has brought calm and reassurance to the Hausa Community in the area, as there was palpable fear and unease in their camp following the unfortunate incidence which he noted has never happened before in the local government.
“We want to sincerely thank the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo for his swift response to the occurrence of this ugly incidence. I must tell you that this is the first time a thing like this is happening in Uromi and it baffles me because, Uromi people have been so accommodating to us in the Hausa Community.
“Over the years, we have lived peacefully among the indigenes. Our sojourn in this land has spanned over seventy years. I was given birth to here, and so are many other people you are seeing here today,” Haruna said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared prominent businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, wanted over an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
In a public notice released on Friday via the agency’s official X handle, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale called on Nigerians to provide any useful information regarding Achimugu’s whereabouts.
“The public is hereby notified that Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering,” the statement read.
READ ALSO: EFCC Busts Ponzi Scheme Academy, Arrests 133 Suspects In Abuja
Achimugu, 51, hails from Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, with her last known address listed as 6C, Rudolf Close, Maitama, Abuja.
The EFCC urged anyone with relevant information to contact its offices across the country or report to the nearest police station or security agency.
The declaration follows Achimugu’s failure to honor an invitation by the anti-graft agency regarding an ongoing investigation into money laundering and a high-profile investment scam.
According to PUNCH Online, the EFCC had summoned her to appear at its Port Harcourt office on March 5, 2025, for questioning.
The summons, dated March 4, was signed by the agency’s acting zonal director in Port Harcourt, Adebayo Adeniyi, and delivered to her Abuja residence.
“This commission is currently investigating a case in which the need to obtain certain clarification from you becomes imperative. In view of the above, you are kindly requested to attend an interview with the undersigned through the Head of Investigation on Wednesday, 5th March 2025, by 10:00 hours prompt,” the letter stated.
However, rather than appearing before the EFCC, Achimugu reportedly left Nigeria on March 6. Her sudden departure prompted the agency to secure a warrant for her arrest before officially declaring her wanted.
The EFCC has urged members of the public with any information about her location to come forward, assuring that all details provided would be treated with confidentiality.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, March 24, 2025 busted a Ponzi Scheme Academy and arrested 133 suspects in Abuja.
They were arrested at the Compensation Layout in Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, following actionable intelligence on the existence of the Academy.
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The Academy, named Q University (a.k.a Q-Net) is in the business of recruiting gullible young Nigerians who are trained to recruit more gullible citizens into the scheme with the promise of getting unrealistic profit returns.
The suspects are enrolled into a training codenamed: “Special Training for New Generation Billionaire” and brainwashed to believe that they would graduate into the league of billionaires.
It was gathered that got into the training by obtaining a form the promoters called “Independent Representative Application Form” with promotional slogans such as: “I’m a Champion” “I’m Unstoppable”, “I’m Infinity”, among others.
The EFCC carried out the operation in collaboration with officers and men of 176 Guards Battalion, Nigerian Army.
Items recovered from the suspects include phones, computers and other electronic gadgets.
They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
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