Victor EzejaThe quest to free the suspended deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari, and four of his co-defendants has suffered another setback as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday dismissed their fresh bail requests.
Kyari and four members of the police Intelligence Response Unit (IRT) are standing trial for alleged involvement in an illicit drug transaction.
The four Kyari’s co-defendants are Sunday Ubua, an assistant commissioner of police; Bawa James, an assistant superintendent of police; Simon Agirgba, an inspector, and John Nuhu, also an inspector.
Ruling on the fresh bail application, the trial judge, Emeka Nwite who had earlier in March rejected a similar request filed by Kyari and his co-defendants, held that the suspects failed to provide substantial evidence that could convince the court to grant them bail.
Nwite reaffirmed his earlier decision of 28 March, denying the defendants bail and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.
The defence counsel to Mr Kyari, Onyechi Ikpeazu had while arguing the bail application, told the court that it was necessary that he should be granted bail for safety reasons given the terrorist attack that occurred at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kuje where he is being held.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria told the judge that his client’s life was in danger due to the recent attack on the detention facility, hence the need for his release.
He assured that Kyari will not jump bail, adding that his client is a law-abiding citizen who did not run away from prison even when he had the opportunity to do so during the attack by armed terrorists.
However, the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sunday Joseph, urged the court to reject the bail applications for Mr. Kyari and his co-defendants, arguing that they are “flight risk” and would tamper with the ongoing money laundering investigations.
Meanwhile, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed a suit filed by the Federal Government seeking to extradite Kyari to the United States of America to face trial on fraud allegations.
Justice Ekwo held that the request lacked merit, adding that the government had no basis to file for the extradition having put Kyari on trial in Nigeria in relation to the allegations against him in the US.
Kyari is wanted in the US for conspiracy to commit electronic fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
A US grand Jury had in April, filed an indictment against him after which a warrant to arrest him was issued.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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