* 2 co-defendants plead guilty to offence
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Monday, arraigned a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari and six others before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspects were arraigned on an eight-count criminal charge, following their alleged involvement in conspiracy and drug trafficking.
When the charge was read to the accused, DCP Abba Kyari; ACP Sunday J. Ubia; ASP James Bawa; Inspector Simon Agirigba; Inspector John Nuhu who are all suspended police officers pleaded not guilty to the offence.
But the other two civilians co-defendants, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alfonsus Ezenwanne pleaded guilty to the offence.
In the charge before the court, NDLEA accused Kyari and the four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in Cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.
They were also accused of tampering with 21.25kg of cocaine unlawfully.
The accused had arrived at the court premises under heavy security by NDLEA Strike Force officers.
While the five-member prosecution team was led by the Agency’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Sunday Nbone Joseph, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) led 13 other lawyers to represent Kyari and Ubia.
ASP James Bawa had Michael Mbanefo and Mariam Osene as defence lawyer while M.Y Chiara and two others represented Agirigba and Nuhu, just as EU Okenyi appearing for Umeibe and Ezenwanne.
After the defendants took their pleas, Chief Agabi told the court that he had filed bail applications for the 1st and 2nd defendants since Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
But the prosecution opposed the bail application with a counter affidavit.
In his remarks, Justice Nwite said he was yet to get the prosecution’s counter affidavit and thereafter adjourned further hearing on bail application to March 14.
But the defence lawyer urged the judge to remand the defendants in NDLEA custody instead of the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
Responding, the prosecuting lawyer said he would not object the request on the grounds that the defendants will be responsible for their own upkeep.
But the defence lawyer expressed fear that the review of facts against the 6th and 7th defendants who pleaded guilty will prejudice the case and therefore urged that the court put the review on hold pending the conclusion of the trial of the 1st to 5th defendants.
The prosecuting NDLEA lawyer , however, opposed the plea, citing an existing judgment.
He urged that the court should proceed with the sentencing of the 6th and 7th defendants since they had pleaded guilty, adding that it will be totally unfair to keep them in prison pending the trial of the 1st to 5th defendants.
In all, five bail applications were filed for the 1st to the 5th defendants while the 8th defendant who is also a police officer is still at large.
Justice Nwite later adjourned the case till March 28 for a review of facts and hearing of the case.
The judge also directed that the defendants should be remanded in NDLEA facility pending the hearing of the bail application on Monday, March 14.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Monday 7th March 2022
