Suspended DCP Abba Kyari has pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before the Abuja Divison of the Federal High Court.

He made the plea before the court’s judge Emeka Nwite. The disgraced cop was arraigned alongside six others on allegations bordering on drug trafficking.

While Mr Kyari pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four, and eight levelled against him, the other four police officers (defendants in the trial) also pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three and four filed against them.

But Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are sixth and seventh defendants, respectively, pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven preferred against them.

Although their names were mentioned in counts three and four on allegations bordering on conspiracy levelled against Mr Kyari and others, they were not asked to take a plea.

The four members of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Shortly after taking their plea, the NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, the director of Prosecution and Legal Services, prayed the court for a trial date for the first to fifth defendants.

Mr Sunday also urged the court to grant a leave to review the charges against Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

“We hope to file our proof of evidence latest tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.

Kanu Agabi, who led a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria appearing for Messrs Kyari and Ubia, said that a bail application was filed for the cops.

The NDLEA’s lawyer, who confirmed the bail application, said a counter-affidavit had been filed.

The NDLEA, in the charge it filed through a team of lawyers, accused Mr Kyari and the other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

It alleged that Kyari and the cops, currently in NDLEA’s custody, also unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of cocaine.

Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne were accused of conspiring with others at large to import 21.35kg of cocaine into the country.

(NAN)