A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), DCP Abba Kyari, and his four co-defendants must face trial in an alleged drug trafficking case. The court rejected their no-case submissions, which had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
Kyari, alongside ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu, is facing charges related to the illegal trafficking and tampering of cocaine. Specifically, they are accused of conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine, as well as unlawfully tampering with 21.35kg of cocaine seized from two convicted drug dealers.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) closed its case after presenting several witnesses, prompting the accused to submit that no case had been made against them. They argued that the prosecution failed to establish enough evidence to warrant their defence.
However, in a ruling delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, the court found that the evidence provided by the prosecution was sufficient to establish a prima facie case. Justice Nwite emphasized that it was not necessary for the prosecution to prove the exact amount of cocaine at this stage, as the law provides a clear punishment for the charges, regardless of the quantity involved.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite stated, “In view of the foregoing, I am of the view and I so hold that a prima facie case has been made out against the first defendant in the five-count charge, and I hereby order him to enter his defence in all the five counts.” The judge made similar rulings for the other four defendants.
The court has adjourned the case until May 21, 2025, for the defendants to begin their defence. This marks a significant step in the ongoing legal battle for Kyari and his co-defendants, as the court continues to assess the evidence against them.
The ruling has sparked public interest, with many following the case closely, as it involves one of Nigeria’s most high-profile former law enforcement officers.
