Posted by In a groundbreaking decision, the Federal High Court in Abuja has authorized Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, who is currently facing narcotics trafficking charges, to visit his hometown to attend his mother’s funeral.
The defendant was granted permission to be released from Kuje jail, where he had been detained, so that he could be present for his mother’s last funeral rituals, according to the decision handed down by trial justice Emeka Nwite.
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It explicitly liberated the defendant on a temporary basis, for a term of no more than two weeks.
The order was made known to Vanguard on Tuesday.
The former supercop is on trial for allegedly tampering with cocaine that was confiscated from two convicted drug peddlers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne. On May 16, 2023, Trial Justice Nwite forbade journalists from covering the trial.
Justice Nwite has ordered that journalists will not be allowed in the courtroom during any hearings involving Kyari.
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An application was filed with the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which led to the restraining order.
Former IRT boss Kyari is facing eight counts of corruption brought against him and four colleagues by the NDLEA: ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba, and Insp. John Nuhu.
NDLEA had successfully lobbied the court to exclude any journalists or attorneys who were not directly involved in the case from the proceedings, stating that the necessity to safeguard the identity of selected witnesses was a compelling reason.
Given the delicate nature of the case, Mr. Sunday Joseph, the NDLEA’s Director of Legal and Prosecution, stated that it was necessary to protect certain witnesses whom he had previously designated as knowledgeable personnel.