Nigeria: Court Declines Abba Kyari, 2 Others' Fresh Bail Application

Justice Emeka Nwite has refused to grant bail to suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and two other suspended senior police officers.

The court, in separate rulings, held that the defendants had not brought any evidence before the court to warrant its discretion in their favour.

Justice Nwite said the court must exercise its discretion judiciously, and held that in this case, the court cannot grant bail to the defendants.

Justice Nwite held that Kyari's application lacked merit.

Kyari is facing an eight-count charge bordering on drug trafficking brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The NDLEA alleged that Kyari and his men, sometimes between January 19 and 25, 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police, IRT, Abuja, in connivance with one ASP John Umoru (now at large), ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, unlawfully tampered with 21.25kilograms worth of cocaine that they seized from the two convicted drug traffickers- Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwane- even as it also accused them of dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

The charge stated that this is contrary to Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The court had, in two previous rulings, denied the defendant's bail and ordered their remand at Kuje prison.

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