JUST IN: Two officers working for Abba Kyari suspended by police commission

The Police Service Commission (PSC) says it has suspended two police officers for illicit drug trafficking.

The officers, Sunday Ubua, an assistant commissioner of police and James Bawa, an assistant superintendent of police, were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for investigation.

The spokesman for the PSC Ikechukwu Ani announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Ani explained that the officers were working under the suspended deputy commissioner of police Abba Kyari, who was also arrested and handed over to NDLEA in connection with the same allegation.

Mr Kyari was the commander of the Intelligence Response Team of the Force Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force before his suspension, following his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A February 16 letter by the PSC to the inspector general of police noted that the suspension of the two officers was with immediate effect.

The letter, ‘Re- Investigation into seizure and transfer to NDLEA of 25 kilogrammes of cocaine by the Office of DCP, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Department of Force Intelligence Bureau’, stated, “The commission, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 030406, has approved the suspension of the officers until the outcome of the investigation into the allegations levelled against them.”

It added, “The commission also directed the Inspector General of Police to also note that Kyari, who prior to this allegation was on suspension, shall remain so until the conclusion of investigations. The inspector general of police was requested to place on suspension, Insp. Simon Agrigba and Insp. John Nuhu in accordance with the Powers of Delegation.”

According to the statement, the PSC also requested the inspector general to inform the commission of the arrest of John Umoru, an assistant superintendent of police, currently at large, to enable it to take necessary actions.

Mr Ani said the commission had directed the I-G to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for further action.

(NAN)