March 28, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Abuja, has refused bail to suspended Deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari and five others, in relation to offences of unlawful drug dealings.
The court also ordered DCP Kyari and four other police officers be remanded at the Kuje Correctional custody, Abuja, till April 28, when the court will rule on the application for a review of facts.
The four police officers are Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bawa James and Inspectors Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu.
Meanwhile, the two civilians in the charge, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who have pleaded guilty to the charge against them have been remanded to Suleja Correctional Centre.
The decision came after Justice Emeka Nwite had refused their bail applications.
The NDLEA in a counter affidavits, specifically to Kyari’s bail application, argued that it is inappropriate to grant bail to the applicant because of the facts and circumstances of the case.
“The applicant is already facing extradition on charges of wire fraud. The 2nd applicant, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, is under investigation for money laundering and may face charges on same.
“The applicant has had dealings with criminals in line of his duty and may be inclined to engage them in interfering with the evidence. The medical challenges of the applicant are not beyond the capacity of the NDLEA.
“The applicant is a flight risk and might jump bail. It is on these premises that the court refuse the bail application of the 1st and 2nd applicant”, the NDLEA, had said while opposing the bail for the defendants.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Nwite, held that the prosecution has successfully established why bail should not be granted to the defendants.
Justice Nwite held that having considered the affidavit evidence supplied by parties and proof of evidence, he was convinced that the prosecution has successfully raised reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility on the part of the defendants.
The judge granted an accelerated hearing of the case.
The NDLEA had in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/57/2022 and filed by NDLEA Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Sunday, accused the defendants of dealing in illegal drug.
Specifically, they were alleged to have dealt in 17. 55 kilogrammes of cocaine between January 19, 2022 and January 25, 2022, an offence punishable under section 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP 30 Laws of Nigeria 2004.
