Abba Kyari Arraigned in court, pleads not guilty 

The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, has been Arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of

the Federal High Court in Abuja Nigeria’s capital by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on alleged drug trafficking charges.

Kyari, who was brought before the court by armed operatives of the agency, along with four other police co – defendants pleaded not guilty of the eight (8) count charges proffered against them.

The four police co – defendants were – ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

Meanwhile the other two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne have pleaded guilty of their offences.

Some of the charges against them, read; “That you, DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male, Adult on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dealt in 17.55kilogrammes of cocaine without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

“That you, DCP Abba Kyari, ACP Sunday J Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu, all male, all male, Adult on or about the 19th to 25th January 2022, within the office of the Inspector-General of (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves and with ASP John Umoru (now at large) to unlawfully tamper with 21.35 kilogramames of cocaine seized from Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwannne in the custody of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), by removing and disposing 17.55 kilogrammes of the cocaine and by substituting same with some other substance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation.”

NDLEA, Director of litigation J.N. Sunday asked the court for more time to review the facts and to file prove of evidence.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned to March 14 and 28/respectively for argument on bail application and ordered the defendants be remanded at the NDLEA facility.