By Ibironke Ariyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has clarified that its substantive drug trafficking case against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, remains active and is scheduled to continue in court on March 16.
The agency said the case will resume before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stressing that the matter is separate from a different case in which Kyari was recently discharged.
NDLEA made the clarification while reacting to a ruling by Justice James Omotosho, who discharged Kyari on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and non-declaration of assets filed against him by the agency.
Speaking on the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that the ruling by Justice Omotosho should not be confused with the main drug-related case against the suspended police officer.
Babafemi emphasised that the drug trafficking trial remains ongoing and would continue as scheduled before Justice Nwite.
“First, I need to clarify that the ruling by Justice Omotosho is completely different from the main and substantive drug case which continues before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, March 16.
“That one is very much on course. The case determined by Justice Omotosho today is a different case of money laundering and non-declaration of assets,” he maintained
Babafemi added that the agency’s prosecution team would study the details of the judgment before deciding whether to challenge the ruling that discharged Kyari.
According to him, the legal team has already been directed to obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment to enable the agency to determine its next line of action.
“On your question on whether the agency will appeal the ruling or not, the prosecution team has been directed to apply for the Certified True Copy of the judgment, which details will help the management take a decision on what next to do,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA spokesman reiterated that the agency remains committed to pursuing the substantive drug case to its logical conclusion in line with due process and the rule of law.
NAN reports that Kyari, a former head of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, is facing prosecution by the anti-drug agency over alleged involvement in drug-related offences.
The continuation of the case before Justice Nwite on March 16 is expected to mark the next stage in the trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.(NAN)
