The Federal High Court 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 against the suspended DCP Abba Kyari and six others.
Others arraigned on March 7, on charges bordering on allegations on cocaine deal with Abba Kyari (1st defendant), are four suspended police officers ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu who are listed as the 2nd to 5th defendants respectively.
Also arraigned with them are Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
Ruling on James’ bail application, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the NDLEA has adduced cogent reasons beyond doubt why ASP James application should be refused .
The judge said he was convinced that ASP James did not meet all the requisite conditions for grant of a bail even though the alleged offence is bailable.
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 then .
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 preferred against them.
The judge on Thursday adjourned the matter to May 26, 2022 for review of facts and possibly allocutus and conviction.