Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, on Monday, pleaded with a Federal High Court in Abuja not to send him to prison.
Kyari was arraigned alongside other members of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) accused of belonging to a syndicate that traffics in narcotics.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, they were accused of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.
On arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty, while the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and begged the court to “have mercy” on them.
Kyari’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, who pleaded with court on his behalf, said his client should be allowed to remain in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) pending the hearing and determination of his fresh application for bail.
He also noted that the application had been filed and served on all parties, adding that the offences against his clients (Kyari and Ubua) are bailable.
He said: “We appeal that they be kept in the NDLEA custody until the bail is heard. They lose nothing if they do that.”
Meanwhile, the NDLEA lawyer did not oppose the request that the defendants continue to stay in the custody of the agency.
But the bail application was not heard because not all processes were before the court.
Addressing the court, the prosecution counsel, Joseph Sunday, maintained that reviewing the facts of the case would not prejudice DCP Kyari and the others.
He said: “My Lord, this sort of application by the defence (counsel) is to undermine the capacity of this court.
“This case should be considered on the basis of the evidence before the court. I do not see how the 1st to 5th defendants will be prejudiced since we are going to confront them with evidence against them.