The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari must enter his defence in the ongoing trial concerning allegations of drug trafficking and tampering with evidence. Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling, rejecting the no-case submissions filed by Kyari and his co-defendants.
Kyari, along with four other police officers and two civilians, faces charges brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for conspiracy to deal in 17.55 kilograms of cocaine and tampering with 21.35 kilograms of seized cocaine. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred between January 19 and January 25, 2022, within the jurisdiction of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja.
The court emphasized that a prima facie case had been established against Kyari and his co-defendants, requiring them to present their defence. Justice Nwite stated that the quantity of cocaine involved does not alter the gravity of the charges, as the law does not differentiate punishment based on the amount of cocaine tampered with or possessed.
Kyari, who was arrested in February 2022 following allegations of links to an international drug cartel, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, two civilian co-defendants admitted to possessing the cocaine and were convicted in June 2022 after entering plea bargains with the NDLEA.