ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, and his co-defendants to enter their defence in the charges filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, ruled on Friday, April 11, 2025, dismissing the defendants’ no-case submission applications.
The judge held that a prima facie case had been established against Kyari and his co-defendants, necessitating their response to the charges.
Kyari, along with four members of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, faces charges of conspiracy to deal in 17.55 kilograms of cocaine, dealing in cocaine without lawful authority, and conspiracy to tamper with cocaine, in addition to unlawfully tampering with 21.35 kilograms of cocaine seized from convicted drug dealers.
The suspended DCP, who was arrested on Monday, February 14, 2022, after the NDLEA accused him of links to an international drug cartel, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His co-defendants in the case include ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu.
Following their arraignment, two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who were arrested alongside the police officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, pleaded guilty and were convicted.
Kyari and the other defendants had earlier filed applications for bail, but their requests were denied. After the NDLEA completed its case, the defence team argued that no evidence had been presented by the prosecution to justify a conviction.
However, Justice Nwite rejected the no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had sufficiently presented evidence to establish a prima facie case against the accused.
The judge emphasized that the quantity of cocaine involved, whether less than or more than the 17.55 kilograms stated in the charge, was not a determining factor in proving the case.
Justice Nwite ordered Kyari and his co-defendants to enter their defence on all five counts, with the matter adjourned to May 21, 2025, for the defendants to begin their testimonies.
