By Muhammad Sabiu
Abba Kyari, the former chief of the Police Intelligence Response Team, is in a new quagmire after officials from the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) indicted him in a sting operation.
Mr Kyari, who is awaiting extradition to the United States on charges of cyber fraud, faces life in jail if convicted of distributing cocaine by a competent court.
After the NDLEA declared Kyari wanted and posted a video of him peddling cocaine, the police apprehended him on Monday.
Kyari was charged with official corruption, tampering with narcotic exhibits, and other unprofessional behaviour, according to the police statement.
As a result, Kyari has been handed over to the cops for further investigation and prosecution under the NDLEA.
Henry Kelechukwu, a legal expert, claimed that Kyari’s prospects of receiving a prison sentence were high.
He added that every case contains gaps to be exploited, but this one is particularly close-knit. The reason for this is that the offences for which he is being charged have an appearance of strict liability, which means that you don’t even have to establish intent; of course, this relies on the charge that the prosecuting agency wishes to bring against him.
In relation to this, an NDLEA act has it that “(a) Any person, who without lawful authority imports, manufactures, plants, or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin, and other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.
“(b)export, transport, or otherwise traffic in the drug popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.
“(c) sells, buys, exposes or offers for sales or otherwise deals in or with the drug popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life.”