DCP Kyari: Court admits $61,400 ‘bribe money’ in evidence

A federal high court in Abuja has admitted in evidence the sum of $61, 400 allegedly given as a bribe by Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP).

Kyari was on March 7 arraigned alongside Sunday J Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu who are members of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Others are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne — two alleged drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, the NDLEA accused the defendants of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

The agency also alleged that the police officers unlawfully tampered with 21.25kilograms worth of cocaine that they seized from Umeibe and Ezenwane.

Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who pleaded guilty upon arraignment, entered a plea bargain with the NDLEA and have been sentenced to two years imprisonment.

According to the NDLEA, Kyari attempted to bribe its senior officer with $61, 400 at a restaurant in Abuja to prevent the testing of part of the cocaine that was seized from the two arrested drug dealers.

At the court session on Wednesday, the NDLEA through its third witness tendered the money and the illegal substance.

The witness, Peter Joshua, who is a chief superintendent of narcotics and an exhibit officer attached to the FCT command of the agency told the court that the foreign currency was handed to him on January 25.

“My lord, I took the serial numbers of the said amount after it was handed to me and I packed and sealed the money in a transparent evidence pouch,” he said.

The money, which was in a nylon bag, was counted in public, after which the judge admitted it in evidence and marked it as Exhibit 11.

Joshua also tendered in evidence 24 packs of cocaine that were handed over to the NDLEA by Kyari’s team. The cocaine was brought before the court in two travelling bags.

Since there was no objection, Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, also admitted them in evidence.

The court equally admitted three international passports that were seized from the convicted drug pushers, Umeibe and Ezenwanne.