News
Court Grants Abba Kyari Bail
The former head of the Rapid Response Team, IRT, of the Inspector General of Police, Abba Kyari has been granted bail after 18 months in prison custody.
Kyari alongside some members of his team was taken into custody in February 2022 after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, alleged tampering with drug exhibits.
The IRT team arrested Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, in January 2022 in connection with 21.25kg of cocaine and subsequently handed the suspects to the NDLEA alongside the cocaine.
The case took a dramatic twist when NDLEA declared Kyari and some members of his IRT wanted for tampering with the evidence.
Both Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne have been released from prison after their conviction.
After several attempts to secure bail, Justice Omotosho of Federal High Court 9, granted Kyari bail on Thursday.
He ruled that for the fact that DCP Abba Kyari and his team refused to escape when Kuje Prison was attacked on July 5, 2022, where about 90 percent of the inmates escaped, “it has proven that Kyari is ready to face any allegations against him.”
Besides the judge said all the “allegations are all bailable” and he is not “a flight risk”.
A member of his defence team, Barr Suleiman Shehu hailed the court decision “as a well-deserved victory.”
Headline
Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna
Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.
The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.
Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.
Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.
News
Senate approves death penalty for drug traffickers
Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.
The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).
The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.
Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.
Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.
During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.
But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.
He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.
The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.
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