ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declined the bail request by Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police and former head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
The court similarly rejected the applications by his co-defendants, with whom he faces charges of illegal dealing in cocaine.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on March 7, arraigned Kyari and four members of the IRT along with two others on eight counts.
The IRT members among the co-defendants are Sunday Ubua, an assistant commissioner of police; Bawa James, an assistant superintendent of police; Simon Agirgba, an inspector; John Nuhu, also an inspector.
After their arraignment, the defendants applied for bail, arguing that they were entitled to bail on the grounds that the alleged offences do not attract capital punishment and that they are still presumed innocent.
On March 14, Kyari’s wife had slumped in court after the judge adjourned the ruling of his bail application for today.
Today at the resumed hearing, the judge held that the NDLEA had placed sufficient evidence before the court to refuse Kyari’s bail application.
The NDLEA in its counter-affidavit to Kyari’s bail application described Kyari as “a flight risk” and argued that it is inappropriate to grant bail to the applicant because of the facts and circumstances of the case.
The affidavit read that: “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.”
The judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in the ruling, aligned with NDLEA’s arguments and dismissed Kyari’s bail application, alongside that of his co-defendants.
“The prosecution has led sufficient evidence linking the defendants to the alleged offences.
“It is trite that bail is not absolute and at the discretion of the court. Therefore, the application for bail is hereby refused,” the judge ruled.
Ezinwanne Onwuka, senior staff reporter and columnist with WAP is a Nigerian-based writer and content developer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her interests include reading, writing, researching and graphic designing.
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