The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has approved a request by the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency for the confiscation of DCP Abba Kyari and his co-accused
assets.
It was gathered that the NDLEA’s request, which was
dispatched to the justice ministry penultimate week, had received the AGF’s
nod.
With this development, the former Commander,
Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team and his accomplices may
lose their assets, cash and money in bank accounts; vehicles; real estate,
notably hotels, residential and commercial buildings; personal effects such as
wristwatches, jewellery and other valuable possessions.
Recall that about N4.2bn was traced to Kyari and his co-accused, ACP Sunday Ubua’s bank accounts.
The NDLEA had on March 7 arraigned Kyari, Ubua and four
members of the IRT, Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu, on
eight counts of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine, and other
related offences before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Two other suspects arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International
Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were
also listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022.
A senior justice ministry official said, “The AGF has
endorsed the request by the NDLEA seeking approval for the confiscation of the
assets of Abba Kyari, Ubua and the other police officers involved in drug
dealing.
“With the approval, the drug agency can now go after their
property such as real estate, bank accounts, cash, vehicles, stocks, bonds and
anything of monetary value.”
The source further said the seizure of the embattled DCP and
his co-accused assets was to ensure that they did not benefit from the proceeds
of crime.
The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, had confirmed that the
accused persons’ bank accounts would be frozen, noting that this was standard
practice.
Kyari, who is wanted in the United States for alleged
involvement in a $1.1m scam carried out by a notorious Internet scammer, Ramon
Abass, aka Hushpuppi, was suspended by the police last July.
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