Abba Kyari To Be Remanded In Custody, As Court Fixes Date For Bail

The trial of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and six others accused of drug trafficking will resume on Monday, March 14 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Emeka Nwike, the presiding judge, set a date for a hearing on Kyari’s bail application after hearing from both the prosecution and defense counsel in the case.

Kyari and his co-defendants were charged with eight counts of hard drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, and Inspector John Nuhu are among those charged by the NDLEA.

The agency also charged Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, two accused drug traffickers apprehended at Enugu’s Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

Kyari and his police co-defendants had already pleaded not guilty to the accusations read to them by the court, while Umeibe and Ezenwanne had previously pled guilty to the counts brought against them.

Lead counsel to Kyari, Kanu Agabi (SAN), asked for bail shortly after the defendants entered their plea, but NDLEA counsel, Joseph Sunday, filed a counter-affidavit.

In the case of the individuals who pled guilty to the charge, the NDLEA counsel requested a trial date as well as a review of facts.

Sunday also informed the court that it has filed a counter-affidavit against Kyari and the other four former members of the Police IRT being released on bail.

Despite the fact that the indictment against the prisoners comprised bailable offenses, Agabi encouraged the court not to grant the request for facts in the cases of Umeibe and Ezenwanne.

Agabi argued that reviewing the facts of the case and reaching a conclusion while the trial is still ongoing would be harmful to his client.

He also mentioned examples in which defendants pled guilty to a charge against them because they were unaware of the charges.

Both Umeibe and Ezenwanne were referenced in certain counts of the charge that concerned Kyari and the others, according to the senior lawyer.

The prosecutor, for his part, insisted that revisiting the facts of the case would not harm DCP Kyari and the others.

He went on to say that the defense’s application is an attempt to undermine the court’s ability, and that the matter would be decided based on the facts presented to the court.

After hearing both arguments, Justice Nwike requested that all parties appear before him on March 14 to formally address the court on the matter.