Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, on Monday lost his battle for bail.
By Emma Ogbuehi
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, declined to grant his bail application.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had placed sufficient evidence before the court to refuse the bail request.
Justice Nwite also rejected bail plea of Kyari’s co-defendants.
The NDLEA, in its counter affidavit, held that it was inappropriate to grant bail to the applicant because of the facts and circumstances of the case.
The anti-narcotic agency described Kyari as “a flight risk.”
It argued that if granted bail, the suspended DCP might jump bail.
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The agency, which said the applicant might interfere with the evidence if granted bail, urged the court to dismiss Kyari’s bail plea.
It argued that the medical challenges of the applicant was not beyond the capacity of the agency’s medical personnel.
The judge, in the ruling, aligned with NDLEA’s arguments and dismissed the request.
The suspended police officer is currently facing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged involvement in 25kg of cocaine.
The other defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, are four members of the IRT, Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu.
Two other suspects arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were also listed as defendants.
Kyari, has been indicted in the United States for alleged involvement in a $1.1m scam carried out by a notorious Internet scammer, Ramon Abass, a.ka. Hushpuppi was suspended by the police last July.
When the matter came up earlier in the month, the trial judge, Nwite, had deferred ruling on the bail applications, prompting Kyari’s to slump.
In February, Kyari’s application for bail had been denied by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on the ground that the substance of his application had been overtaken by events.