‘Don’t send me to prison,’ Abba Kyari pleads in court

Suspended Nigerian police officer,  Abba Kyari and six others are to remain in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency till March 14.

It was an answer to the prayer of the embattled senior police officer through his lawyer, Kanu Agabi, after the senior cop and his erstwhile colleagues were arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, March 7.

Arraigned with Kyari were Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Sunday Ubua, Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, Inspector John Nuhu, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.

Ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that they be remanded in NDLEA custody till the next court date.

Kyari and his former colleagues had pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges brought against them.

On the other hand, the two civilians in the trial, Chibuinna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven.

The NDLEA, through its Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Joseph Sunday, applied for a trial date and for review of facts in respect of the defendants that pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charge.

The NDLEA equally told the court that it filed a counter-affidavit to oppose the release of Kyari and the other four former members of the Police IRT, on bail.

However, defence counsel, Kanu Agabi argued that the charge against the defendants contained bailable offences, urging the court not to accede to the request for facts in respect of Umeibe and Ezenwanne as it will be prejudicial to his client for facts of the case to be reviewed and a decision reached on it, while the trial is still subsisting.

Agabi also noted that Umeibe and Ezenwanne were mentioned in some counts in the charge that involved Kyari and the others.

Justice Emeka Nwike adjourned the case till March 14 to hear the bail application after listening to the arguments.