Kyari, four others plead not guilty to alleged drug deal

The embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and four other police officers have pleaded not guilty to the drug-related offences charges in Abuja brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

But while Kyari pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four, and eight levelled against him, the other four police officers, who are defendants in the trial, also pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, and four filed against them.

Two civilians, Chibuna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are sixth and seventh defendants and non-police officers, stunned lawyers and the court audience when they admitted their guilt to counts five, six and seven, after the court registrar read the charges preferred against them.

The four members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team in the charge include Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunday J. Ubia; Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirigba, and Inspector John Nuhu.

Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Kanu Agabi, SAN, who led a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for Kyari and Ubia, informed that a bail application had been filed in respect of his clients.

The NDLEA’s lawyer, Joseph Sunday, who confirmed being served with the bail application, said a counter affidavit had been filed in its opposition.