Embattled former Commander of IGP-Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari is in another legal battle as the Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force on Friday ordered the Chairman of National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) to produce him before the panel to explain his role in the case of missing persons.
Kyari is facing prosecution in United States for alleged involved with Ramon Abbas, commonly known as Hushpuppi, Hush, or Ray Hushpuppi, who is facing criminal charges in the United States for conspiracy to launder money obtained from business email compromise, and another case in Nigeria over involvement in drug related offences..
In the latest battle, a tepresentative of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the panel, John Aikpokpo Martins while presiding on behalf of the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (retd), made the order for Kyari to be presented before the panel on the 22nd of March, 2022 to explain his role
Martins noted that the presence of Abba Kyari before the panel is very necessary owing to the fact a witness of the petitioner had earlier testified that Kyari allegedly promised to reach out to him in respect of the missing persons, and till date nothing was heard about them.
Also, the panel ordered the new Commandant of the IGP-IRT, Tunde Dirsu to do the needful to ensure that Kyari whom he succeeded in office is produced before the panel on the aforesaid date.
The above orders were made in respect of three persons who were allegedly arrested and detained by the IGP-IRT detention facility and till date, their whereabouts are still unknown. The trio are Yakubu Danjuma, Ibrahim Daniel and Choji Dung.
The order of the panel followed information from panel’s counsel, Halilu Adamu that Kyari is in the custody of the NDLEA and police counsel, James Idachaba, who told the panel that the police can no longer produce Kyari since he is no longer in police custody, having been suspended.
It would be recalled that the panel had on the 8th of March, 2022 ordered the office of the Inspector General of Police to unfailingly produce the three victims before it.
Before the panel’s order, a Federal High Court, FCT sitting in Gudu had also ordered the release of the three persons but the order was not obeyed.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
