ABUJA – Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, refused to grant bail to ASP Bawa James, a co-defendant in the drug trafficking charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the suspended DCP Abba Kyari and others.
The NDLEA had, on March 7, arraigned Kyari (1st defendant) and six others over allegations bordering on cocaine deal.
He was arraigned alongside four suspended police officers including ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu as 2nd to 5th defendants respectively.
Also arraigned with them are Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
Ruling on the bail application, the court held that the NDLEA succeeded in adducing reasons beyond doubt on why the court should not admit ASP James to a bail.
The court agreed with the submission of NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, that ASP James (3rd defendant) was a “flight risk” and that he might jump bail.
The judge held that James Bawa did not tender substantial evidence to challenge NDLEA’s deposition that the character of evidence against him was very serious.
The 3rd Defendant’s counsel had argued that the court has discretionary power to rule in favour of the applicant since the offence was a bailable one.
Justice Nwite had, on March 28, fixed April 28, for ruling on bail application filed by James after that of Abba Kyari and other co-defendants were rejected on the grounds that James’ application was not ripe for hearing.
Although the five officers pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants, respectively, pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven counts preferred against them.
