He also argued that going ahead with the case would not be in the interest of the 6th and 7th defendants who have pleaded guilty to counts 5, 6 and 7.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the suspended DCP Abba Kyari and six others to be remanded in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) till March 14 when the hearing of their bail application would be considered.
Abba Kyari was charged with the criminal offences alongside four other senior police officers and two civilians on eight counts bordering on drug trafficking.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty to the eight counts while the 6th and 7th defendants pleaded guilty to counts 5, 6 and 7.
The Prosecution counsel, Joseph Sunday asked the court for an adjournment to enable them to review the facts against the defendants. He said this would enable them to confront them with the evidence.
He also argued that going ahead with the case would not be in the interest of the 6th and 7th defendants who have pleaded guilty to counts 5, 6 and 7.
Counsel for Abba Kyari, Kanu Agabi (SAN), said they have filed an application for bail, adding that the defendants are entitled to bail because it is a bailable offence.
He argued that the decision of the prosecution to review the facts against the defendants was unnecessary, noting that it would amount to prejudice if the allegations preferred against the defendants turn out to be false.[story_link align="left"]105887[/story_link]
The presiding judge after listening to the arguments of the parties involved in the case adjourned the matter to March 14 to enable the parties to file and exchange the necessary processes regarding the matter.
In the charge filed by Joseph Sunday, NDLEA director of prosecution and legal services, the agency accused Kyari and the four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine weighing 17.55kg.
It also alleged that Kyari and his men unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg of cocaine.
Umeibe and Ezenwanne were accused of conspiring with others at large to import 21.35kg of cocaine into the country.
Meanwhile, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong had urged the agency to stay action on filing charges against the disgraced police chief, Kyari. He said it would jeopardise the ongoing process to extradite Kyari to the US to answer for allegations of involving in cyber fraud, alongside Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi.
The suspended police chief was remanded in the custody of the NDLEA after attempting to bribe an official of the agency with $61,000 to facilitate the release of seized cocaine.