Nigeria: Court Dismisses Abba Kyari's Witness, Strikes Out Evidence in Cocaine Trial

What the report says

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the evidence of a defence witness in the cocaine-trafficking trial of suspended police officer Abba Kyari after the witness failed to appear for two straight hearings. According to Premium Times, cited by AllAfrica, Judge Emeka Nwite dismissed the testimony of police inspector El-John Nwoke, Kyari’s second defence witness, and closed his evidence on Wednesday.

Kyari, a former deputy commissioner of police who once led the Intelligence Response Team, is on trial with four other former officers over allegations tied to the handling of cocaine seized from two convicted traffickers in January 2022. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says the defendants tampered with part of the drugs and replaced it with another substance. Kyari also faces a separate count accusing him of attempting to obstruct anti-narcotics officers.

The defence had used Nwoke’s testimony to support its argument that Kyari and his team were being unfairly targeted after arresting the traffickers. The witness had described police interviews with the suspects and played video evidence said to contain their statements. But the prosecution pressed for his testimony to be closed after repeated absences, and the judge agreed that the witness had been given enough opportunity to testify and face cross-examination.

The ruling is a setback for Kyari’s team as the case continues. The court also heard arguments over a subpoena seeking NDLEA duty records from Enugu airport on the day the alleged trafficking episode began, and the judge adjourned the matter for continuation.