- Calls for immediate release before May 29
- Says Kyari is innocent
From Idu Jude, Abuja
As Nigeria grapples with the sudden release of the convicted duo of Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne who were both arrested on the account of drug peddling at the Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu, in 2022, by men of Nigeria Drug law enforcement Agency (NDLEA), major concerns have imaged that DCP Abbah Kyari, who was linked to the same crime, is innocent of the allegation and should be immediately released.
The former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) was alleged to have been part of the drug business at the Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu, having been indicted by the arrested crime suspects.
Recall that DCP Abbah Kyari is also allegedly being linked by US security officials on the account of Hushpuppi’s drug case still pending in the US.
Addressing a world press conference Tuesday in Abuja, to press home its demand for a quick release of the former DCP Abbah Kyari. a group under the aegis of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEHUR) stated that the Federal Government, should as a matter of urgency accord the incarcerated man the right of freedom without further trials.
The group while speaking through its spokesperson Mr Sunday Adebayo, expresses surprise over the sudden release of the duo of Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne who were the prime suspects but still hold former DCP KYARI who was just an accused and remained in detention while court trials continue.
According to the group, the convicted criminals were to serve 2 years jail term each on 8 counts of charge with no option of fine but was released to work the streets of Nigeria after serving just 16 months.
The group, said, “Last Friday, the media was awash with the release of two convicted Notorious International drug traffickers arrested by Police IRT in January, who were transferred to the NDLEA. The IRT had arrested Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, at the car park of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on 19/1/2022 and in Just 16 months these drug kingpins were released.
“The police had swooped on the two after the whistle-blower revealed all their movements and activities right from Brazil to Ethiopia and Nigeria, via the Enugu Airport. They arrived at Enugu Airport with over 21kg of drugs full to the brim in their 2 carry-on bags. Shockingly, despite the presence of all security agents including the men of the NDLEA, they were cleared”.
The group further expressing disbelief, accused the authority of masterminding the release of the kingpins into the public without proper scrutiny and the inherent danger. “The police as we stated above arrested them afterwards. They were moved to Abuja for preliminary investigation and onward handover to the NDLEA, which has the authority to handle the matter. It’s the usual practice and that was not the first-time drug traffickers arrested by the police would be handed over to the NDLEA
” After The videos of their confession, they indicted NDLEA agents, Also called the full names, addresses, phone numbers and identities of the Big Drug Barons Sponsoring them and settling the NDLEA before they land in Enugu Airport, the police eventually handed over the men to the NDLEA for further investigation”
The group, further expressing surprise over the sudden turn of events, said, “One would have expected that the NDLEA would appreciate the routine arrest and handover of arrested drug traffickers but things changed when the agency went full throttle to Organise a setup, indicted the police officers that did the arrest on the account that they were involved in the shady deal.
“the NDLEA went on a media frenzy falsely linking DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubua to drug cartels and also alleging some parts of the drugs they arrested and transferred to NDLEA were tampered with. The Police officers who arrested the International drug traffickers were eventually maliciously charged to court alongside Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne as co-defendants when the allegations were different.
“It left much to be desired that these police officers were charged on the same charge sheet with the drug traffickers they arrested and Voluntarily transferred to NDLEA but the details of that is left for the court to decide”
Also speaking, the convener of the group Mr Michael Emaluji, recalls the efforts of former DCP, have led to a total clamp down on notorious criminals across the country. While recalling an account, he said, ” It will also interest you all to know that, my father, Mr Sunday Emaluji was kidnapped in Kaduna and held hostage for days by kidnappers who demanded the ransom of N50m. It took the intervention of former DCP Abba Kyari and his IRT to secure his release, just the same way they have risen to the occasion of kidnapping all over the country over the years.
“The list is endless when it comes to the number of kidnappings, Terrorism and other serious crimes Kyari and the IRT team have stepped into to rescue.
“Need we remind the public that the IRT team led by Kyari successfully arrested the gang that kidnapped and killed Late Col. Yunusa in Kaduna, the gang that kidnapped Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, close to the resident of Mamman Daura in Kaduna, the same gang that kidnapped Dr Abdul Malik Durunguwa and his wife, member of the Kaduna state house of assembly and many more.
“They also brought down Chibuike aka Vampire, one of the deadliest kidnappers in the south East who was earlier rescued from a State High Court in Owerri by his men in an operation that claimed the lives of eight (8) persons in the Court premises including correctional officers”.
“Mr Michael Emaluji, however, argued that the group have probed further trial of the policemen and were puzzled that a sister agency out of vendetta could deploy state machinery and resources to punish security agents that arrested and handed over these international drug traffickers to them and allowed the same Drug Traffickers to regain freedom in 16 months to Continue their Drug business.
“We found out during one of the hearings of the case that, contrary to the NDLEA’s claim that policemen were involved in international drug trafficking, it was clearly established in court that Kyari and the IRT were not. The allegation that the court would determine was a smoke screen to embark on a media trial and conceal the real drug barons.
“We must say here that the Centre for Democracy and human rights believe in justice, fairness and equity. That Abba Kyari and his team should be granted bail as enshrined in our constitution.
“They have sacrificed so much for the security of this country and do not deserve this kind of dehumanising treatment being meted out to them,” he concluded.