DCP Abba Kyari, the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, has pleaded with a federal high court in Abuja not to imprison him.
Kyari and other members of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) were arraigned on Monday.
They were charged with conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing of cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms in the FHC/ABJ/57/2022 accusation.
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DCP Abba Kyari and four other suspects pleaded not guilty at their arraignment on Monday, but the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and urged the court to “have mercy.”
Kyari’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, argued in court that his client should be allowed to remain in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) custody pending the hearing and approval of his new bail application.
He further stated that the application had been submitted and served on all parties involved, as well as the fact that the charges against his clients (Kyari and Ubua) were bailable.
“We request that they be held in NDLEA custody until the bail hearing,” he said. If they do that, they lose nothing.”
Meanwhile, the NDLEA’s lawyer did not object to the defendants’ continued detention in the agency’s custody.
However, because not all processes were before the court, the bail application was not heard.
In his remarks to the court, prosecution attorney Joseph Sunday insisted that revisiting the facts of the case would not prejudice DCP Abba Kyari and the other defendants.
“My lord, this type of application by the defense (counsel) undermines this court’s capacity,” he said.
“This case will be decided based on the evidence presented to the court.” I don’t understand how the first through fifth defendants will be biased because they will see evidence against them.
“The most reasonable course of action is to dismiss the charges against the sixth and seventh defendants.
“It will be unreasonable and unfair to hold the two defendants in detention until the outcome of the other defendants’ trials.”
Kyari, along with four other police officers, ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba, and Insp. John Nuhu, were brought before Justice Emeka Nwike.
Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, two suspected drug traffickers apprehended at Enugu’s Akanu Ibiam International Airport, were also arraigned alongside Kyari.
The defendants will remain in NDLEA custody until the bail application is heard next Monday, March 14th, according to the judge.
Source: Daily Trust.
