The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 19 to rule on an application seeking to vacate an earlier order in the ongoing alleged cocaine-related trial involving suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and four other police officers.
Prosecution counsel, Joseph Sunday, disclosed this after proceedings on Monday, October 12, explaining that the day’s sitting was devoted to arguments on the application concerning an order made in connection with the proceedings of October 5.
According to him, both the prosecution and the defence had filed their respective processes, which were argued before the court reserved its decision for next Monday.
The application comes amid recent developments in the long-running case, including the court’s decision on October 7 to strike out the evidence of the second defence witness, Inspector John Nwonke, following his repeated failure to appear for cross-examination.
At the subsequent sitting on October 9, the court gave Kyari and his co-defendants another opportunity to submit the names of witnesses they intend to call in their defence, warning that failure to comply could lead to the premature closure of their defence.
Sunday said Monday’s proceedings could not proceed to the next stage because the court was also expected to hear subpoenaed witnesses from the airport in Enugu.
He explained that the witnesses were present in court but would return for further proceedings on Tuesday, October 13, when the defence is expected to take them through their evidence, subject to the court’s schedule.
The prosecution counsel also disclosed that the court had reserved a ruling for Tuesday on a separate bail application filed by the second defendant.
He said proceedings would continue with the witnesses after the court delivers its decision on the bail application.
Kyari is standing trial alongside four other suspended officers of the Police Intelligence Response Team over allegations relating to the handling of cocaine recovered from two convicted drug traffickers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, in January 2022.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.