Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed August 30, to rule on the bail applications filed by the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari and his co-defendants.
The police officers are being prosecuted by the Federal Government over alleged illicit drug deal.
The court had on March 28, denied the Defendants bail, and consequently remanded them in Kuje Correctional.
The Judge fixed the date after parties in the matter made submissions for and against the bail of the former Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force and four others arraigned with him.
In his submissions, Dr. Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), who represented Abba Kyari and the 4th and 5th defendants in the eight-count charge, prayed the court to consider the recent terrorist attacks on the Kuje Custodian Center and grant his clients bail.
He said, the terrorists did not only enter the prison but also took over the prison for over three hours and the applicants, who are law abiding did not run away, even though they have the opportunity to do so.
While noting that the defendants/applicants will not jump bail if granted, Ikpeazu said, they will also not interfere with investigations as the prosecution had told the court that investigations in the matter had been completed.
The counsel further submitted that his clients were kept in custody along with criminals they had arrested and convicted for about six months now.
Counsel to the second defendant, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), on his part urged the court to grant his client bail in view of the health condition of his wife, whom he said, has been battling with cancer for sometimes now and it is the 2nd defendant that has been catering for her.
Reacting, counsel to the Federal Government and the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sunday Joseph opposed the bail applications.
Joseph told the court in its counter affidavit, that DCP Abba Kyari and his co-defendants are “flight risks” and that they would tamper with the money laundering investigations and the witnesses lined up for the trial.
He reminded the court of its earlier ruling on the bail of the defendants and that there is nothing placed before the court to warrant a reconsideration of the earlier pronouncement of the court.
Earlier, the NDLEA tendered more evidences to prove the eight-count charge bordering on illicit drug deal preferred against Abba Kyari and four others.
The prosecution counsel tendered the documentary evidence through the third witness called by the agency since the trial of commenced on Monday.
Among the fresh evidence tendered through PW3, Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, Peter Joshua, who is an exhibit Officer attached with the FCT command of the Agency and admitted by the court as exhibits are the sum of 61, 400 dollars, Certificate of test analysis, packing of substance forms and two big traveling bags containing the cocaine.
Also admitted as exhibits are the international passports of two co-defendants of the Abba Kyari, who have been convicted and sentenced by the court earlier.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
