Abba Kyari To Remain In NDLEA Custody As Court Fixes Date For Bail

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Monday, March 14 for the continuation of the trial of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and six others over alleged drug trafficking.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwike fixed the date for a hearing of the bail application by Kyari after listening to both prosecution and defence lawyers in the matter.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had filed eight-count charges of hard drug trafficking against Kyari and his co-defendants.

Others arraigned by the NDLEA include Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba and Inspector John Nuhu.

Two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were also arraigned by the agency.

Kyari and his police co-defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them by the court while Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty to charges levelled against them.

Shortly after the defendants entered their plea, lead counsel to Kyari, Kanu Agabi (SAN) applied for the bail but NDLEA counsel, Joseph Sunday, brought a counter-affidavit.

The NDLEA lawyer applied for a trial date and for review of facts in respect of the defendants that pleaded guilty to the charge.

Sunday equally told the court that it filed a counter-affidavit to oppose the release of Kyari and the other four former members of the Police IRT, on bail.

However, Agabi, while arguing that the charge against the defendants contained bailable offences, he urged the court not to accede to the request for facts in respect of Umeibe and Ezenwanne.

Agabi contended that it will be prejudicial to his client for facts of the case to be reviewed and a decision reached on it, while the trial is still subsisting.

He further made reference to cases where defendants, out of ignorance, pleaded guilty to a charge against them.

The senior lawyer noted that both Umeibe and Ezenwanne were also mentioned in some counts in the charge that involved Kyari and the others.

On his part, the Prosecution counsel maintained that reviewing the facts of the case would not prejudice DCP Kyari and the others.

He added that the application by the defence is to undermine the capacity of this court, adding that the case is to be considered on the basis of the evidence before the court.

Justice Nwike, after listening to both arguments, asked both parties to appear before him on March 14 to formally address the court on the issue.