Metro

Again, Court Rejects Abba Kyari’s Fresh Bail Request

Published

1 year ago

June 19, 2024

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a fresh bail application the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, filed to be released on bail, pending the conclusion of his trial.

Kyari is facing an eight-count charge bordering on drug trafficking brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The NDLEA alleged that Kyari and his men, sometime between January 19 and 25, 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police, IRT, Abuja, in connivance with one ASP John Umoru (now at large), ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, unlawfully tampered with 21.25kilograms worth of cocaine that they seized from the two convicted drug traffickers- Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwane- even as it also accused them of dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

The charge stated that this is contrary to section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the defendants.

The court had, in two previous rulings, denied the defendant’s bail and ordered their remand at Kuje prison.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja also refused Kyari’s request for bail.

At today’s sitting, Justice Nwite, in a ruling, held that Kyari’s application lacked merit.

He stated that Kyari failed to establish any exceptional circumstance that would warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.

The trial judge said that the court had earlier dismissed a similar bail application that was brought before it and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

He said no evidence was shown to convince the court why it should depart from its earlier ruling.

Justice Nwite rejected Kyari’s application and approved that the NLDEA, proceed with the prosecution of both Kyari and his co-defendants in the matter.

Recall that the court last month granted Kyari temporary bail from prison custody to enable him to participate in his mother’s final burial rites.

The court granted him N50m bail for two weeks and two sureties in like sum.

Previously, Kyari had filed an application to challenge the charge brought against him which the court on March 22, 2023, dismissed.

Kyari, through his team of lawyers led by Mr Nureni Jimoh (SAN), argued that the charge was legally defective and premature.

He added that the NDLEA ought to have allowed police to exhaust its internal machinery before filing the applications in court.

He claimed that the Police had already commenced an investigation into allegations against him and issued an interim report.

The defendant argued that he could only be charged to court upon the conclusion of the internal investigation by the police.

PUNCH

Metro

Residents Protest Bauchi Farmer’s Murder, Kill 20 Cows

Published

3 hours ago

August 8, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi State Police Command has disclosed the death of a man and cows in the Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Disclosing the development in a press release issued on Friday, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil explained that “Today, 8th August, 2025, the command received a report from one Emmanuel Bulus, the village head of Kaduna via Bogoro LGA, Bauchi State, that one Irmiya Yohanna m’, aged 40 years of Kaduna-Bogoro, went to farm situated at the outskirts of the village on Thursday and couldn’t return home.

“A search was conducted within and around the farm, and his lifeless body was found lying on the farm premises.”

He added that a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Fitoka Golda, swung into action, visited the scene and moved the deceased to Bogoro General Hospital, where a medical doctor certified him dead.

Wakil stated that the preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was suspected to have been killed.

“Subsequently, some irate locals invaded some cattle around the village, stabbed and killed approximately 20 cows, 19 sheep, and several were injured.

“About 249 cows were rescued by the police, and one Ahmadu Mairiga was arrested. He was suspected to be responsible for the tragic death of Irmiya Yohanna,” the statement added.

The PPRO revealed that the investigation further discovered that the deceased was on a visit to his farm and saw some cows grazing inside his farm.

“He sought the herders to chase the cows out of his farm, which resulted in a physical confrontation that led to the tragic death,” Wakil said.

The PPRO stated that “the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the scene, met the chairman of Bogoro, Fulalani’s heads (Ardo), traditional rulers, Tsayawa leaders and other relevant stakeholders, and the general locals crowded at the frontage of Bogoro Divisional Police Headquarters, Bauchi.

“He addressed them on the efforts and measures put in place to address this tragic circumstance by the police command.

“The CP urged members of the Bogoro Community to exercise patience, warned them from breaching the law, appealed for calm, and assured them that justice would be served accordingly.”

Metro

Five Injured As Tanker, Bus Collide In Lagos

Published

7 hours ago

August 8, 2025

Editor

At least five persons were injured in a traffic accident involving a fuel tanker and a commercial bus at Toyota Bus Stop, inward Oshodi in Lagos State.

According to a statement by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on Friday, the incident occurred on Thursday, near The Guardian newspaper headquarters and involved a PMS-laden tanker with registration number T28128LA and a commercial Volkswagen T4 bus, GGE 526 YG.

The statement which was signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, noted that preliminary findings from Oloto Police Division indicated that the tanker experienced a sudden brake failure while on top speed and rammed into the moving bus, which was fully loaded with passengers.

LASTMA said its officers “executed an urgent, precise and seamlessly coordinated rescue operation” at the scene, rescuing five persons, three females and two males, including the bus driver.

“Acting with commendable precision, the rescue team secured the accident scene, extracted the injured, and mitigated the risk of secondary hazards,” the agency said.

While one of the victims was taken to a nearby hospital by a good samaritan, the Lagos State Ambulance Service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s Rescue Unit conveyed the others to hospitals for emergency care.

Bakare-Oki, extended “profound sympathy to the victims” and expressed “heartfelt wishes for their full and speedy recovery.”

He blamed the accident on “brazen disregard for statutory speed limits, which are conspicuously signposted along Lagos highways,” stressing that proper speed regulation and vehicle maintenance could have prevented the crash.

He said, “Operators of articulated and heavy-duty vehicles particularly tanker drivers must maintain their machinery in flawless mechanical condition, with meticulous emphasis on the integrity of braking systems.”

Bakare-Oki also called on truck owners to “institutionalise rigorous and continuous training and retraining programmes for their drivers,” stating that “the sanctity of human life must remain the paramount consideration in all road transport operations.”

Metro

Mother, Child Die As Tanker Rams Into Commercial Vehicle In Anambra

Published

8 hours ago

August 8, 2025

Editor

Two persons, a mother and child, have died on the spot, and others were hospitalised after a trailer lost control and rammed into a commercial vehicle at the Ulasi River Bridge, Okija Junction in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the crash, which occurred late on Thursday when the driver of the trailer experienced brake failure and crashed into the Toyota Hiace bus on the bridge, resulted in multiple fatalities.

Some eyewitnesses and residents near the scene said the vehicle, which was coming from Upper Iweka area and travelling to Owerri, was stopped by some touts allegedly collecting revenue when the trailer’s brakes failed and hit the vehicle behind.

A video of the accident circulating on social media showed the damaged vehicle on the road with passers-by and other pedestrians making frantic efforts to rescue the accident victims, while some lifeless bodies and some unconscious victims still lay on the ground.

An eyewitness near the scene, who gave his name as Ibeabuchi Edeoga, told our correspondent that the accident involved a Toyota Hiace and a trailer truck.

He said, “The accident was caused by touts who blocked the road and were collecting revenue from commercial drivers. But unfortunately, a trailer truck that was on speed failed brakes and overran the bus, killing two people, a woman and her child instantly. Many passengers involved in the accident were rushed to a nearby hospital. But all of the victims were unconscious when they were taken to the hospital. But as of this morning, some victims have died.”

Another eyewitness, Uchenna Odinaka, said, “I was heading home when the incident happened. It could have been more disastrous, but the railings by the bridge stopped the truck from going further to hitting other vehicles and road users.

“It happened during the rush hours when everyone was trying to get home. The trailer driver and the motor boy were rescued. Two people died on the spot, while several others who were unconscious were rushed to a nearby hospital.

“The bodies of the victims lay on the ground before the rescue operations from pedestrians and the arrival of security operatives.”

When contacted on the development on Friday, the Spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra sector, Margaret Onabe, confirmed the incident, but could not, however, give the actual casualty figure.

“Yes, we received the report of the accident, but we are still investigating the cause of the crash and will issue a statement with information soon.”