During the ongoing trial of Abba Kyari, the suspended DCP, and others, journalists covering the court proceedings were barred from entering Court 10 of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, made the order following an application by Sunday Joseph, a director of the Legal and Prosecution Department of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to protect the next witness listed to give evidence in the trial. Joseph prayed the court to clear the courtroom entirely of visitors, including lawyers and journalists, who were in the court at the time.

Justice Nwite stood down the matter to allow those who were not parties in the anti-narcotic suit against the suspended police officers to move out. However, Emmanuel Oluwabiyi, a lawyer in court for another matter, expressed embarrassment at the application by the NDLEA counsel. Oluwabiyi noted that the directive was made for everyone to step out and that no lawyer should be present if the matter was going to be discussed.

Joseph explained that the NDLEA made the application to give protection to the witnesses, who are intelligent officers in the case. Joseph added that members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, who were loyal to Mr Kyari, were still coming to court, and, therefore, the witnesses could be considered under threat. He also stated that the witnesses’ exposure to the public would hinder NDLEA’s nitty-gritty.

Justice Nwite had earlier dismissed an application filed by Kyari and three others seeking an order dismissing the NDLEA’s charge against them. The co-defendants had filed the application based on the claims that the suit was incompetent, and they had not been subjected to the internal disciplinary action of the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission, as provided by the constitution. However, Justice Nwite denied their motion.

The hearing is ongoing at the time of filing this report.