Appeal Court dismisses Kyari’s move to quash drug charge

The Appeal Court, Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a move by the former head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari, to quash the unlawful drug deal charge against him.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko dismissed Kyari’s appeal for lack of merit.

The once-feared supercop was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) alongside four members of the IRT for conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine.

The other defendants are – ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirgba and Insp. John Nuhu.

They were also accused of dealing in cocaine without lawful authority, conspiracy to tamper with cocaine, and unlawfully tampering with 21.35kg of cocaine seized from two convicted drug dealers.

Kyari had appealed the March 22, 2023 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who dismissed an application filed by the defendant.

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s ex-supercop, Abba Kyari, granted temporary bail after 27 months in detention

The police officer in his application challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try him and other defendants when they were yet to be subjected to the internal disciplinary mechanisms of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Justice Banjoko, who read Thursday’s judgement, held that there was no reason to tamper with the findings and conclusions reached on the issue by the lower court.

She said: “In conclusion, this court finds no reason to disturb the findings and conclusions reached by the learned trial judge of the Federal High Court, and in the ruling delivered on the 22nd day of March 2023 is affirmed.

“The learned trial judge is directed to continue and conclude the trial at the Federal High Court.

“The appeal is found unmeritorious and it is accordingly dismissed.”

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