The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday dismissed a fresh bail application that was brought before it by the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, who is facing a drug trafficking charge.
Delivering the court ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite, held that the suspended DCP, failed to establish why its previous decision that ordered his remand at Kuje prison pending the determination of the case against him, should be set-side. Justice Nwite said that the reasons adduced for the bail request had been addressed in the earlier application, which was denied. Kyari, put on trial by the Federal Government on alleged drug trafficking offenses, is to remain in Kuje prison pending his trial on the charges.
Kyari has prayed to the court for another bail following the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists who freed scores of their members, where Kyari and other defendants are being detained.
Justice Nwite said that the fact that Kyari and four other police officers that are facing trial with him, did not escape when Kuje prison was recently attacked by insurgents, was not enough to prove that they would not jump bail once they are released from custody.
Justice Nwite dismissed Kyari's argument that the Kuje jailbreak constituted an exceptional circumstance the court should consider and review its earlier ruling that denied him bail.
More so, Justice Nwite held that since the NDLEA has not closed its case, both Kyari and his co-defedants could interfere with some of the vital witnesses or undermine their prosecution, if released on bail.
"The defendants have still not presented sufficient materials before me to warrant the grant of the fresh applications. Consequently, the applications are refused and my former order for accelerated trial is hereby sustained," the trial judge held.
The judge subsequently fixed October 19, 20, and 21 for the resumption of the trial.
