Court Orders Day-to-Day Hearing as Abba Kyari, Co-Defendants Resume Defence in Cocaine Trial

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered an accelerated hearing in the criminal trial involving suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and his co-defendants.

Justice Emeka Nwite directed that proceedings continue on a day-to-day basis as the defendants return to court to continue their defence in the case instituted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Kyari, a former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, is being tried alongside former IRT officers Sunday J. Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirgba and John Nuhu.

The prosecution concerns allegations connected with cocaine seized from two convicted drug traffickers.

The defendants deny wrongdoing, and the allegations against them remain subject to final determination by the court.

Trial resumes after earlier interruption

Proceedings had previously been affected by developments surrounding Justice Nwite’s recommendation for elevation to the Court of Appeal.

With the matter now back before the court, the prosecution has pressed for the defence to proceed without further unnecessary delay.

The defence had already begun calling witnesses before the interruption.

One of the defence witnesses, Inspector El-John Nwonke, had previously testified in the proceedings.

At the resumed sitting, defence lawyers sought sufficient time to review evidence and make arrangements concerning witnesses expected to appear before the court.

Justice Nwite nevertheless emphasised the need for the long-running trial to proceed expeditiously.

The order for accelerated hearing is significant because the defendants have remained in custody while the proceedings continue.

Background to the case

The criminal proceedings originally included Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, two drug traffickers who pleaded guilty and were subsequently convicted.

Their conviction did not determine the allegations against Kyari and the other police officers.

The NDLEA alleges that the officers conspired to tamper with cocaine seized during an operation and engaged in conduct contrary to Nigeria’s drug-control laws.

Kyari and the other defendants have denied the allegations.

The case has remained one of Nigeria’s most closely watched criminal trials because of Kyari’s former senior position within the Police Force and the seriousness of the allegations involved.

With the accelerated hearing order now in place, attention will turn to the remaining defence witnesses, cross-examination and the eventual conclusion of the trial.