The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has got the permission of a Federal High Court in Abuja to detain suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari and six others for 14 days in the first instance.
Justice Zainab Abubakar, in an ex parte ruling yesterday, granted the agency’s request to detain Kyari and the others for 14 in its facility in Abuja pending further investigations.
The others are: ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu (all police personnel); Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus (two suspected drug couriers).
Justice Abubakar said the NDLEA was at liberty to apply for a renewal of the detention order, if it is unable to conclude investigations at the expiration of the 14 days.
NDLEA’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Sunday, had, before moving the ex parte application, withdrawn an earlier one filed on Umeibe and Alphonsus.
The NDLEA, in a supporting affidavit, accused Kyari and the other four police officers of complicity in drug importation and trafficking.
It added that Umeibe and Alphonsus admitted to being drug couriers.
It saidinvestigation would take some time as there are complicated dimensions of the case that require follow-up and unravelling.
“The investigation is likely to extend to foreign countries where some people linked to this trans-national drug trafficking activities reside,” it added.