Drug Saga: Court Rejects DCP Kyari, Two Others Bail Applications
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, March 28, 2022, refused to grant bail to the suspended head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.
Kyari was on March 7, 2022 arraigned alongside Sunday J Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu, who are also members of the police IRT.
Others charged with Kyari included Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are suspected drug traffickers that were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) accused the defendants of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.
However, opon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants mainly members of the police IRT pleaded not guilty while the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and begged the court for ‘mercy’.
Counsel to Kyari and Uba who is the second defendant, Mr. Mahmoud Magaji Esq, who moved the bail application, prayed the court to grant his clients bail while Counsel to the third and fifth defendants also prayed for bail on lenient terms.
But the prosecution Counsel, Mr. Joseph Sunday Esq, opposed the bail applications by the defendants, saying that all the conditions for which the defendants should not be granted bail are inherent in the case.
In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, agreed with the prosecution that the defendants are likely to interfere and undermine the trial.
Justice Nwite accordingly, rejected the bail application and ordered for a speedy trial.
