Kyarigate: We’ve no reason to shield anyone in cocaine probe ― NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday said, it has no reason to shield anyone indicted in the course of the ongoing investigation of a 25kg cocaine deal involving a gang, headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.

The Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said, the Agency remains committed to the evidence-based investigation and its resolve cannot be weakened by any misrepresentation of facts.

To correct some inaccuracies in the information in the public space that NDLEA officers at the Enugu airport were the ones who received from the cartel details about the mule coming from Addis Ababa, “The Agency wishes to quote from the transcript of Abba Kyari’s recorded conversation with our undercover officer and a portion of ASP James Bawa’s statement to the police as documented in the police investigation report, a copy of which was made available to the Agency, to state that it’s an established fact that it’s the Abba Kyari’s team that was contacted by the cartel and without doubt, the records clearly show how their ring works”.

Babafemi recalled that after NDLEA requested for Kyari and others for interrogation, they were questioned by the police, after which they were handed over along with the report of their interrogation.

According to the police investigation report, ASP James Bawa in his statement, reveals that “he was called by an informant identified as IK from Brazil who told him that a drug courier will be arriving onboard Ethiopian Airlines in Enugu.

“He explained further that a pointer from IK, the Brazil-based informant met with him at about 1420hrs on 19th January 2022 outside the airport and showed him a picture of the courier. Subsequently, they sighted the suspect as he exited the airport terminal after all arrival clearance formalities, and he was arrested with another associate.”

In a recorded conversation with NDLEA undercover officer, Abba Kyari also said, “They are greedy, seriously greedy (referring to his informants), we tried to have them accept 40% but they refused, except 50%, they know the rudiment of the deal very well, they are the ones that do the packing. From Brazil, one of the informants accompanied it to Ethiopia. You understand; one of the informants accompanied the goods to Ethiopia, one of the informants that give us information. He is the boy of the big baron.

“From Addis, it will be given to those to proceed further with it, he will get their snapshots without their knowledge. Yes, he will reveal those that are conveying it further, get snapshots of theirs without their knowledge and send to us (Abba Kyari’s team). So we already know the goods, pictures and the clothes they are wearing, hope you understand, we know your name, he will give us everything. So, automatically my team will just be waiting, they will just see you and arrest you.”

Responding to the question by NDLEA’s officer on whether his boys are usually stationed inside or outside the airport, Abba Kyari said, “Yes, yes, some are outside while some are inside. They will just allow you to finish arrival formalities and arrest you the moment you come out.”

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy said, the recorded conversation between Kyari and officers of the Agency, no doubt establishes who the cartel was relating with and their modus operandi.

“Again, this is to correct inaccuracies in some reports and assure that the Agency will not deviate from an evidence-based investigation that will spare nobody found complicit”, he said in a statement on Wednesday.