By 
… As Abba Kyari undergoes marathon grilling, to face criminal charges soon
By Nkasi Kolie
The Inspector -General of Police(IGP), Usman Alkali, has ordered the immediate closure of all Inteligence Responses Team(IRT) offices and Special Tactical Squad(STS) across the country.
The IGP has also ordered that IRT and STS offices in Abuja be fortified and reorganized for an enhanced operational performance to curb emerging threats.
Alkali’s order is coming a day after the police arrested suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head of Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, Abba Kyari and four others over alleged drug dealings and handed them over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The IGP gave the order at a meeting with members of force management team held at Force Headquarters.
All serving officers at the satellite units across the country have been directed to report at the Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing and further instructions.
The fortification of security around the headquarters of the security outfits may not be unconnected with the security of some high profile suspects in custody at the facility located at the old abattoir in Abuja.
There are fears that the Force Headquarters was not comfortable with the state of security of some suspects especially the high profile ones following the arrest of former IRT commander who seemed to have a firm grip and control of the office even while on suspension.
To this end, police authorities have put necessary security measures in place to protect suspects from the hands of those suspected to be die hard loyalists to Kyari gaining access to the suspects so as not to jeopardize investigations.
A list of new officers to be deployed to IRT is being compiled for screening and subsequent approval.
Meanwhile, officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said that “progress is being made” on the marathon grilling of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and other suspects.
An official of NDLEA, who prefers anonymity “because an investigation is ongoing”, told our correspondent that Kyari would be arraigned soon.
According to the legal officer, the facts obtained so far are enough to arraign Kyari.
“He will be arraigned for criminal charges in accordance with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act,” the official added.
When contacted, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, also said Kyari would be prosecuted.
“The ultimate goal of any criminal investigation is prosecution,” Babafemi said without giving details.
On Monday, NDLEA declared Kyari wanted for complicity in a 25-kilogramme cocaine deal.
The NDLEA also accused Kyari of being “a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline”.
The agency said Kyari tried to compromise an NDLEA officer in January by asking him to conceal part of the cocaine haul that was seized from some suspects.
It also said the senior cop was caught on camera handing over $61,400 in cash to compromise its operative.
The suspended cop was invited for questioning on February 10 but did not show up or respond, according to the NDLEA.
NDLEA later confirmed Kyari and four others were handed over to the agency over their involvement in a 25 kilograms Cocaine deal.
The agency said the police handed over Kyari to NDLEA at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force, to the anti-narcotic agency.
Recall that the senior police officer was earlier suspended after he was implicated by Nigerian influencer Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, who pleaded guilty to money laundering and other crimes in the United States.
Kyari, who became famous for exposing a string of high-profile crimes in Nigeria, denied the allegations against him.
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