Bail application: Abba Kyari knows fate on March 28, wife slumps in court 

Abiodun OBA

The suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Abba Kyari, will wait till March 28 to know whether or not his bail request shall be granted.

At the court session on Monday, Mahmoud Magaji, counsel representing Kyari and Ubia (second defendant), prayed the court to grant his clients bail.

While counsel to the fourth and fifth defendants also prayed the court for bail on “liberal” terms, counsel to the third defendant asked that his application be taken on a later date.

However, Joseph Sunday, prosecution counsel, opposed the bail applications. He said all the conditions for which the defendants should not be granted bail are inherent in the case.

He therefore asked the court to exercise discretion on the defendants.

Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, fixed March 28 for ruling on the bail application and also to hear submissions on the propriety of the facts of the case in respect to the sixth and seventh defendants.

Recall that Kyari was on March 7, arraigned alongside Sunday J Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu who are members of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Others are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne — two alleged drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, the agency accused the defendants of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

Upon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty.

However, the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and begged the court to “have mercy”.

Meawhile, Kyari’s wife Ramatu Yakubu Kyari slumped and fell on the floor while men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were leading Kyari and others away from the court premises.

After she slumped, she was quickly carried and rushed inside one of the offices of the court by NDLEA officials and lawyers for medical attention.

The development followed the deferment of ruling on Kyari’s bail application by the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite.