Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and former Commander of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Abba Kyari, began his day in court on a rough patch on Tuesday as a Federal High Court in Abuja granted the request by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to further keep him in its custody.
Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the anti-drugs agency permission to hold Kyari for 14 more days.
She also approved the NDLEA’s prayer to further detain Kyari’s co-travellers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, for 14 days in its facility in Abuja pending investigation.
The duo are alleged drug couriers implicated in the case involving Kyari.
Justice Zainab Abubakar gave the order after listening to the Director, Prosecution and Legal Services (NDLEA), Mr. Joseph. Sunday, who moved an ex-parte application to that effect.
In a recent statement the Acting Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had disclosed that “Interim investigations report revealed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Jan. 19.
“The suspects were arrested upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.
“The arrest led to the recovery of substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two narcotic couriers.
“The operation which was intelligence-driven was undertaken by a Unit of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).”
Adejobi added that the suspects were subsequently transferred to the NDLEA on January 25, 2022.