THE Court of Appeal in Abuja has rejected an appeal by Abba Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, who was seeking to have a drug trafficking charge against him dismissed.
A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Adebukol Banjoko, stated that Kyari’s appeal lacked merit.
Justice Banjoko emphasized that the trial court’s findings and conclusions from March 22, 2023, should not be altered.
The court directed the trial judge to proceed with the case at the Federal High Court, ruling that Kyari’s appeal was without merit and therefore dismissed.
Justices Peter Obiora and Okon Abang concurred with the lead judgement.
Kyari and four members of his team —Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu are facing eight counts of drug trafficking.
In January 2023, Kyari argued that the charge against him was legally flawed, contending that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should have let the police complete their investigation and internal disciplinary proceedings before bringing charges.
Kyari also pointed out that the Police Service Commission has the authority to investigate and discipline officers, similar to the National Judicial Council’s role in disciplining judges.
He therefore requested that the court dismiss the charge against him and acquit him.
