TheCable

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered that Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), be remanded at a correctional centre pending the conclusion of his trial.

Kyari who has been in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) since February 12 was arraigned on March 7 over allegations of drug trafficking.

He was arraigned alongside Sunday J Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu who are members of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Others are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne — two alleged drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, the agency accused the defendants of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

Upon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty.

However, the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and begged the court to “have mercy”.

At the court session on Monday, Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, refused the bail application of the defendants.

The judge held that the NDLEA placed sufficient materials before it to warrant the refusal of bail to Kyari and his co-defendants.

Consequently, Nwite ordered that Kyari and four others be remanded in Kuje correctional centre while the sixth and seventh defendants who pleaded guilty, should be remanded in Suleja correctional centre.

The judge has fixed April 27 to rule on an application for review of facts.

Joseph Sunday, prosecution counsel, is praying the court to review the fact of the case with respect to the sixth and seventh defendants.

But Kanu Agabi, counsel to Kyari and the second defendant, said reviewing the facts will be prejudicial to the case of his clients.

“If you review the facts, you’ll have to make findings that will be prejudicial to the trial,” he said.

“The facts are interwoven and the danger in this circumstance is that the findings in respect to one is the findings in respect to all.”

Counsel to the fourth and fifth defendants also aligned himself with Agabi’s submissions.