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Update: Drug Trafficking : Police tackle some NDLEA Agency, of being on the payroll of some international drug barons , detains Abba Kyari, four others

The Nigeria Police Force, on Monday, accused some officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, of being on the payroll of some international drug barons barely hours after the NDLEA declared the suspended Commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, wanted for alleged drug trafficking.
Trouble started around 1pm when the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, held a press conference in Abuja, where he alleged that Kyari was a member of an international drug cartel.
Babafemi said Kyari, who was suspended by the police last August for his alleged links to international fraudster, Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi, attempted to sell part of the cocaine, which was seized from some drug dealers.
Babafemi said, “Some law enforcement agents, who should be partners in the pursuit of the President’s mandate, are at the forefront of breaking the law, as they aid and abet drug trafficking in the country.
“Today, we are forced to declare one of such law enforcement agents wanted in the person of suspended DCP Abba Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of the Intelligence Response Team at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force.”
The NDLEA spokesman said on Friday, January 21, 2022, Kyari initiated a call to one of the agency’s officers in Abuja around 2.12pm, adding that when the officer returned the call two minutes later, the former IRT boss informed him that he was coming to discuss an operational matter with him after the Friday prayers.
Babafemi stated, “He (Kyari) appeared at the agreed venue of the meeting with the officer and went straight to the crux of the matter.
“The NDLEA officer’s team had intercepted and arrested some traffickers, who came into the country from Ethiopia with 25kg of cocaine. He (Kyari) proposed a drug deal whereby he and his team are to take 15kg of the cocaine and leave 10kg for the prosecution of the suspects arrested with the illicit drug in Enugu.
“In the meantime, the purloined cocaine will be replaced with a dummy worth 15kg. He asked the NDLEA officer to persuade men of the FCT Command to play along as well.”
Babafemi said the officer in question swiftly informed the NDLEA authorities about Kyari’s plan and the agency subsequently asked him to play along with the senior police officer.
He added that around 11.05am on January 24, Kyari and the NDLEA officer in question began communicating on WhatsApp and the officer expressed his willingness to accede to Kyari’s request.
Babademi added, “At this point, Kyari disclosed that the 15kg (already taken out) was shared between the informants that provided information for the seizure and himself and his men of the IRT of the Nigeria Police.
“He said the informants were given 7kg, while his team took 8kg, which was already sold. He then offered to pay the NDLEA team (that is the officer and the FCT commander) by selling, on their behalf, half of the remaining 10kg, thereby further reducing the original cocaine for the prosecution to just 5kg.
“At N7m per kilogramme, the proceeds from the 5kg would amount to N35m at the exchange rate of N570 per dollar, being the black market rate for the day, January 24, 2022. In effect, he would be delivering $61,400 to the NDLEA team.”
Babafemi also said Kyari put pressure on the NDLEA officer to wrap up the arrangement with the commander of the FCT Command to take custody of the drug and the suspects from his men, who were on the ground in Abuja.
He said at that time Kyari was speaking from Lagos, where he allegedly travelled for private business.
The NDLEA spokesman stated, “The next day, January 25, Kyari offered to send his younger brother to deliver the payment, while his men deliver the suspects, but our officer turned down the suggestion, insisting that he would rather deal with him in person and was therefore prepared to wait for him to return from Lagos.
“And by 5.23 pm, Kyari was in Abuja and met with the officer at the same rendezvous where they had the first meeting. In their discussion, he disclosed how his team received information from a double-crosser, who betrayed the traffickers to him, showing a sordid connection between law enforcement agents and the drug underworld; he narrated how acting on the tip-off, his team departed Abuja to Enugu and arrested the traffickers, removed parts of the consignment on his instructions and replaced same with dummies.”
According to Kyari’s plan, once the 5kg cocaine has been tested in the presence of the suspects and confirmed positive, there will be no need to test the remaining ones, being dummies.
“He also brought with him the money from the sale of the 5kg share of the NDLEA team, a total of $61,400. Our officer, however, preferred to take the money inside his car. Well, the car was wired with sound and video recorders,” Babafemi added.
He subsequently played a video to journalists showing a man believed to be Kyari discussing with the NDLEA officer in Hausa language.
The NDLEA spokesman said after the operation, the agency invited Kyari, but he refused to show up, adding that he was subsequently declared wanted.
Babafemi said, “The suspects and drugs were delivered to us on February 8, but the last part of the process, which is yet to be completed, is the debriefing of Kyari.
“Having failed to honour the official invitation, the NDLEA has no option but to declare DCP Abba Kyari of the Nigeria Police Force wanted right from this very moment.
“With the intelligence at our disposal, the agency believes strongly that DCP Kyari is a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline, and he needs to answer questions that crop up in an ongoing drug case in which he is the principal actor.”
Moments after Kyari was declared wanted, however, the NPF, through the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement, which stated that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had ordered an investigation into the matter.
The police noted that Kyari, who is still on suspension, continued to run operations with the IRT, which resulted in the arrest of some drug dealers.
According to Adejobi, the drug dealers in question were allowed to bring in cocaine through the Enugu airport with the connivance of NDLEA officials.
The Force subsequently called on the NDLEA to also arrest its officials on the payroll of drug barons.
The statement read in part, “In line with standard administrative procedures of the Force, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered a high-level, discreet and in-house investigation into the allegations.
“The interim investigations’ report revealed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on January 19, 2022 upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.”
The police stated that the arrest led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two.
Adejobi added, “The two arrested drug couriers confirmed that the modus was for the transnational drug barons to conspire with the NDLEA officers on duty and send them their pre-boarding photographs for identification, seamless clearance and unhindered passage out of the airport with the narcotics being trafficked.
“The two arrested drug couriers also confirmed that they had been enjoying this relationship with the NDLEA officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport since 2021 and had in this instant case January, 19, 2022, been identified and cleared by the NDLEA officers as customary, having received their pre-departure photographs and other details prior to their arrival in Enugu, and were on their way out with the narcotics when they were apprehended by the police.”
The police explained that although the case and the two suspects were subsequently transferred to the NDLEA on January 25, 2022, the findings of the in-house investigation ordered by the IG established reasonable grounds for strong suspicion that the IRT officers involved in the operation could have been involved in official corruption, which compromised ethical standards in their dealings with the suspects and the exhibits recovered.
According to the statement, the police investigation report also indicted Kyari, who has been on suspension for his alleged involvement in a different fraud case being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
“It is to be emphasised that DCP Abba Kyari’s involvement in these allegations occurred while his suspension from service was subsisting,” the statement read.
The NPF subsequently arrested all the police officers involved in the case, including Kyari, and handed them over to the NDLEA for investigation.
The four other officers arrested were identified as Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu. Another officer, ASP John Umoru, is said to be at large.
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Tinubu has concluded his work vacation ahead of schedule and will return to Abuja on Tuesday, Says Onanuga

President Bola Tinubu will on Tuesday, September 16, return to Abuja to resume official duties after ending his vacation earlier than planned.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has concluded his work vacation ahead of schedule and will return to Abuja on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, to resume official duties.”
The President had departed Nigeria for France on September 4, 2025, to spend part of his annual holiday. He was initially scheduled to split the period between France and the United Kingdom.
While in Paris, Tinubu held a private luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.
Both leaders reportedly reviewed key areas of bilateral cooperation and agreed to strengthen partnerships in pursuit of mutual prosperity and global stability.
This trip is Tinubu’s seventh visit to Paris since assuming office in May 2023 and his first since the BRICS summit in July and August’s TICAD9 in Japan.
In the first nine months of 2025, the President has undertaken 15 international trips across 11 countries.
These include high-level summits, bilateral engagements, presidential inaugurations, and annual leaves.
On January 6, Tinubu kicked off his diplomatic itinerary with a visit to Accra, the capital of the Republic of Ghana, to attend the inauguration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama on January 7.
He was in the United Arab Emirates to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Summit from January 12 – 16, where he held side meetings with Gulf investors and officials on trade and energy cooperation.
From January 27-28, he visited Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit.
February saw the President travel to France before attending the 37th African Union Summit in Ethiopia, where he joined other African leaders in discussions on regional security, climate adaptation, and continental trade integration under the AfCFTA.
From April 2-21, Tinubu embarked on a two-week working visit that included France and the United Kingdom.
In mid-May, the President travelled to Vatican City, attending the historic inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome.
From June 28 to July 4, Tinubu undertook a landmark state visit to Saint Lucia, where he addressed CARICOM leaders in Castries.
From Saint Lucia, he proceeded to Brazil, arriving in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit (July 4–7).
The Brazil visit continued into August, with President Tinubu returning for a two-day state visit.
This came after he visited Japan in the same month to attend the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, where he pitched Nigeria’s investment readiness to Japanese multinationals and met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on maritime security and digital infrastructure.
Before he arrived in Japan, Tinubu and his entourage stopped over in Dubai, UAE, on August 15 and arrived in Yokohama early in the morning on August 18.
It was his second visit to the Gulf state within the year.
In September, he again embarked on a working vacation to the United Kingdom and France, his third visit to Paris this year and second to London.
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Catholic Bishops Conference : Let us build prosperity together and promoting interfaith harmony, Tinubu urges church leaders

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged faith leaders to join hands with him to build a strong economy in which the people will prosper.
He also urged them to remain steadfast in promoting interfaith harmony and denouncing violence.
He pledged to partner them and their institutions to tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Tinubu spoke at the opening of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday. He said his request to the religious leaders was hinged on the fact that faith-based organisations are “a vital bridge for peace, unity and moral renewal in the country.”
‘’Our efforts in tackling insecurity, expanding social investment programmes, strengthening agriculture and revitalising infrastructure are geared towards creating an enabling environment for Nigerians to live in peace and fulfill their potential.
“I reassure you that the Federal Government will deepen collaboration with the Catholic Church and other faith-based Organisations in key sectors as education, healthcare, social welfare and skills development.
‘’Together, we can tackle poverty, reduce inequality and build stronger communities,” the President said.
He was represented at the event by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, attended the event, which was witnessed by the representative of Pope Leo XIV, Apostolic Nuncio Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, and some members of the National Assembly.
Tinubu told the bishops that genuine reconciliation and national cohesion can only be achieved when spiritual leaders preach peace, discourage extremism, hatred, and divisive tendencies.
He challenged them ‘’to continue speaking truth to power, not only to government but to society.’’
Read Also: Be patient with Tinubu’s reforms, prosperity will come — Akpabio tells Nigerians
Tinubu, in a statement by Akume’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, reminded the clerics that while ‘’speaking truth to power,’’ they should ‘’offer constructive solutions that will help us build a nation where integrity, hard work and compassion are hallmarks of public and private life.”
He lauded the Catholic Bishops and other clerics across denominations for championing dialogue and tolerance in a diverse nation like Nigeria.
“The Catholic Church has been a credible partner in the journey towards national renewal. Your investments in education, health and social welfare—often in remote and underserved communities—speak louder than words. You have stood with the people in times of hardship, provided comfort in times of grief and raised your voice against injustice and corruption,” Tinubu said.
The President assured them that his administration is committed to addressing insecurity and social unrest, including poverty, unemployment and inequality.
He cited removal of fuel subsidy, unification of exchange rates and efforts to curb leakages in public finances as steps toward stabilising the economy and laying a foundation for long-term prosperity.
These policies, though demanding sacrifices in the short term, Tinubu noted, are necessary to put the nation back on the path of growth and long-term prosperity.
The President emphasised that beyond stabilisation, his government is working to attract local and foreign investments by creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He highlighted reforms in key sectors, such as agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, which are expected to stimulate job creation, boost productivity, and expand opportunities for young Nigerians.
Tinubu said while the results may not be immediate, the reforms are structured to deliver enduring benefits that will uplift lives and secure a brighter economic future for the nation.
He said: “This administration came into office with a firm commitment to renew hope, strengthen our democratic institutions and build a Nigeria that works for all. We have taken steps to stabilise the economy, attract investment and implement reforms that will, in due course, yield enduring benefits for our people.
‘’We recognise that good governance is not just about economic growth, it is about justice, fairness, transparency, accountability and the dignity of every Nigerian.
“It’s also about ensuring that no one is left behind – whether in urban centres or rural communities, whether majority or minority, whether rich or poor.
Tinubu called on religious leaders to complement the government’s initiatives by nurturing honesty, hard work, and compassion in their communities.
He urged the church to continue offering guidance in civic education, environmental protection and youth empowerment.
The President further urged the church to collaborate with the government in advancing civic education, protecting the environment, and empowering young people, so future generations will gain not only academic knowledge but also values needed to uphold the moral fabric of society.
Akpabio urges patience
Akpabio urged Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu administration’s reforms, as they will soon yield results.
“Let me urge my compatriots to be patient with your government as we lay again the foundations of this house. Do not despair when the winds blow strong or the scaffolding shakes,’’ Akpabio said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong.
He said it was important for people to note that a country is like a cathedral that cannot be built in a short space of time
“A nation is like a mighty cathedral — it is not raised overnight, but stone by stone, prayer by prayer, hand by hand – They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as Eagles (Isaiah 40:31), he said.
“Let us renew hope in the Nigerian enterprise. Let us believe again that our land can be great, that our children can inherit a future brighter than our present.
“Let us bind the wounds of division, banish the cynicism of despair, and walk together—Church and State, pulpit and parliament, faith and policy—towards the dawn.
“Transformation is not the burden of one arm of society, or the privilege of a select few. It is a covenant of partnership. As St. Paul declares: ‘We are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.’”
Governor Eno noted that the Catholic Church has played key roles all over the world in fighting injustice, enthroning democratic governance and placing the welfare of the people at the centre of its policies.
Eno called for continued support of the Church in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.
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Update : No going back on free fuel distribution, says Dangote

‘We offer cheaper fuel despite importing 60% of crude’
Recent attacks against Dangote Petroleum Refinery from some associations in the oil and gas industry were orchestrated to derail the planned free fuel distribution logistics initiative, the management of Dangote Refinery said last night.
It however foreclosed backtracking on the initiative, adding that the attacks lack genuine and patriotic concerns.
In a statement last night, the Refinery said the position of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) lacks legitimacy and has nothing to do unionisation as being claimed.
“Their position”, according to the statement , “have made it abundantly clear that the actions and threats issued by them is not borne out of legitimate concerns about unionisation, but a calculated campaign of economic sabotage that is orchestrated by vested interests who perceive progress as a threat to their entrenched positions.”
Reacting to a press statement by DAPPMAN, which was published, in some newspapers at the weekend, Dangote Refinery accused the association of misleading Nigerians, noting that their claims were contradicted by established facts.
The statement by Dangote Refinery reads: “In January 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) reported that one of DAPPMAN’s members had supplied petrol containing over 15% methanol, well above acceptable limits (Methanol which is not a standard industry practice or procedure for refinery, but blenders use it to prompt up the octane rating to an acceptable level that is well above anti-knocking ratio).
“The result was widespread engine damage for thousands of end users. Yet, no transparent government inquiry or independent investigation was ever conducted to determine the source, intent, or full impact of the adulterated fuel.”
The refinery also described as incorrect, the claim that the price of petrol in Togo is lower than in Nigeria. It revealed that the average pump price in Lomé stands at approximately 680 CFA francs per litre, equivalent to N1, 826.
“This figure reflects the very scenario that DAPPMAN and its affiliates appear to advocate for in Nigeria. The Dangote Refinery has positioned Nigeria as a primary source of affordable petrol feedstock for West Africa, despite the refinery importing over 60% of the crude oil it processes. Remarkably, the refinery is able to offer petrol at prices below the international benchmark within the sub-Saharan region.
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