…as Wife slumps in court
By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to discountenance the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, bail.
Also, yesterday, a lady, identified as Ramatu, Kyari’s wife, slump at the premises of the court while the operatives of the agency, were leading Kyari and the others away shortly after proceeding.
Arguing his bail application, the prosecution agency, in a 21-paragraph counter-affidavit with exhibit marked NDLEA 1 to 5, insisted that Kyari will escaped if granted bail.
Counsel to prosecution, the Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Mr. Joseph Sunday, maintained that Kyari has “tremendous influence in the Nigeria Police”, adding that he has the capacity to interfere with its witnesses.
He submitted, ‘’That there is a strong likelihood of the 1st to 5th Defendants/Applicants using their influence in the Police and the criminal underworld to interfere with Prosecution witnesses if released on bail.
‘’That financial investigation of the 1st to 5th Defendants/Applicants is also in progress by the NDLEA and they are likely to be subsequently charged with money laundering offences as there are yet-to-be explained financial transactions involving the 1st to 5th Defendants/Applicants.’’
Concluding his argument, the agency maintained that the Defendants, ‘’are likely to tamper with financial records and interfere with the ongoing financial investigation.’’
Therefore, he pray Justice Emeka Nwite to deny all the Defendants bail and rather okay accelerated hearing of the case.
However, Kyari, in his bail application argued by Mr. Mahmud Magaji, SAN, prayed the court to grant him bail on liberal conditions.
Premising on Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Section 164 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, he posited that the charge against him contained bailable offences.
The embattled DCP, urged the court to invoke the powers donated to it by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to exercise discretion in his favour.
Also, the 2nd, 4th and 5th Defendants, through their respective lawyers, asked the court to release them on bail, pending the determination of the case against them.
The 3rd Defendant, applied for time to respond to a counter-affidavit the NDLEA filed in opposition to his bail request.
The other Defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, were four former members of the Police IRT, ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, as well as two drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
On arraignment, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who were cited as the 6th and 7th Defendants in the charge, had on March 7, pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking charge against them.
Sequel to the guilty plea, Justice Nwite slated March 28 to review the facts of the case so as to sentence the two Defendants, accordingly.
