Suspended Intelligence Response Team leader, Abba Kyari, recently escaped attempted murder by aggrieved inmates at the Kuje prison, who accused him of not honoring his ‘bribe-for-release’ deals when he was in active service.
According to reports, the attack occurred on May 4, 2022, and there are attempts to move Kyari from Kuje prison where he is currently detained to the custody of the State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS).
The inmates who are said to have been arrested for drug-related offenses attempted to kill Kyari and claimed Kyari prosecuted them despite taking bribes from them. According to reports, a source who is a state investigator and intelligence officer described Kyari as a “dodgy criminal”.
Quoting the inmates, one of the sources said Mr. Kyari was “eliminating smaller (drug) dealers to clear the field for Afam Ukatu,” a suspected billionaire drug baron allegedly behind N3 billion Tramadol deal linked to Mr. Kyari.
“Inmates claimed that upon his arrest, Abba Kyari demanded bribes to kill the case, then still prosecuted them,” a Kuje prison source who accessed the testimonies of the aggrieved inmates said.
Abba Kyari Initially Settles Inmates
It was gathered that Kyari had to pay each of the aggrieved inmates 200,000 Naira, “in initial settlement fees” and then “procured DSTV subscription for cells to buy loyalty and peace,” one source told local media.
The source added that despite this gesture, the aggrieved inmates have continued to threaten Kyari’s life.
“Regardless of the level of protection, they vowed to get him. The inmates have given him an ultimatum to return all he extorted from them or be killed. Relevant officials have assessed that he will be killed or badly injured if he continues to be remanded in Kuje,” a source was quoted as saying.
In view of the attack, an official recommendation has therefore been made that Kyari should be transferred out of Kuje to an SSS facility, per reports.
Meanwhile, a prison source told local media that Kyari has his way in Kuje prison, alleging that he bought the loyalty of officers.
“So far, he has every relevant officer on his payroll. They do his bidding, he sees his wife, and he has access to mobile devices and marabouts,” the source said.
The suspended police chief was arrested and remanded in prison amid his ongoing trial following allegations by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that he attempted to bribe an official of the agency with $61,000 to facilitate the release of seized cocaine.
Kyari is facing eight counts of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in cocaine, and other related offenses at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The other defendants in the charge are four members of the IRT, Sunday Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu. Two other suspects arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were also listed as defendants.
Kyari has also been indicted in the United States for alleged involvement in a $1.1million scam carried out by a notorious internet scammer, Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi, and he was suspended by the police service in July 2021.
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