The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed on Wednesday an application seeking to strike out charges against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari. Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, only a court of law has the exclusive right and power to hear drug‑related cases. Accordingly, Section 251 of the Constitution confers on the court the authority to hear and determine the charge.
Kyari, who previously headed the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, told the court that the charges against him were impulsive. He and four other IRT members—ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu—were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja with conspiracy to deal in 17.55 kg of cocaine. The defendants also face charges of dealing in cocaine without lawful authority, conspiracy to tamper with cocaine, and unlawful tampering with 21.35 kg of cocaine seized from two convicted drug dealers.
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