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BREAKING: Relief ends for Kyari, ex-IRT boss, as court denies him fresh bail

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Abba Kyari, formally detained Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and erstwhile Commander of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), may have returned back to prison, no thanks to the decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to deny him a fresh bail application, after a temporary relief for him to bury his mother.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case of the multiple award-winning super cop, who is currently being prosecuted by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for drug-related crimes, refused to renew a fresh pleading for bail, pending the conclusion of his trial, after the expiration of the initial one.

At a court session in which reporters were barred, the court, reportedly ruled on Wednesday, that the fresh application by the embattled police officer lacked merit, stressing that Kyari, who is currently suspended from the police, failed to establish any exceptional circumstance that would warrant the exercise of judicial discretion in his favour.

Nwite, who noted that the trial court had earlier dismissed a similar bail application that was brought before it and ordered accelerated hearing of the case, held that no evidence was adduced to show why the court should depart from its earlier ruling and consequently, refused the application and gave the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NLDEA, the nod to proceed with prosecution of both Kyari and his co-defendants in the matter.

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Kyari had secured a temporary relief a month ago after the court granted his release from prison custody to enable him to participate in his mother’s final burial rites, for a period not exceeding two weeks, while being mandated to pay a bail bond to the tune of N50million with a surety in the like sum.

Nwite, who had on May 16, 2023, barred reporters from covering the case of the defendant who is on trial for allegedly tampering with cocaine that was seized from two convicted drug peddlers- Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, maintained that they should stay away whenever Kyari’s case was called up for hearing before the court.

This was after acceding to an application brought before the court by the anti-drug agency in the matter of Kyari, currently facing an eight-count charge preferred against him and four members of his team; ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu citing security reasons.

At the Wednesday proceeding, the agency had persuaded the court to walk all reporters and lawyers not connected to the case, out of the courtroom, citing the need to protect identities of some witnesses billed to testify in the matter, with Sunday Joseph, its lawyer, pleading that that some of the witnesses he identified as intelligent officers, needed to be shielded, in view of the sensitivity of the case.

Sunday, Director of Prosecution at the NDLEA, maintained that the application was in the overall national interest, the prosecution counsel said it was observed that members of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police IRT, who were loyal to DCP Kyari, were always in court to observe the proceedings.

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Kyari, who had twice lost the bid for his freedom at the lower court and Court of Appeal and who also lost the bid to halt the trial, following the dismissal of his application on March 22, challenging the jurisdiction of the court, by the court, had argued through Nureni Jimoh (SAN), his lawyer that the charge was legally defective and premature, because the NDLEA ought to have allowed police to exhaust its internal machinery before it instituted the action.

Owing to the ongoing investigation by his employers, Kyari, whose ordeal started after the NDLEA said he tampered with the drug he seized, had told the court that he could only be charged to court upon conclusion of the internal investigation by the police, which he acknowledge already had an interim report on the matter,

Specifically, the anti-drug agency is claiming that the suspended IRT boss, and his men, 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 offence was allegedly committed between January 19 and 25, 2022, at the office of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) IRT, Abuja, in connivance with one ASP John Umoru (now at large), contrary to section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

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German national stabbed, robbed in Abuja

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A German citizen was attacked and robbed in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Saturday morning, raising alarms about increasing insecurity in the city.

According to a security report, the incident occurred around 8:00 AM along IBB Way near Maitama Primary School.

READ ALSO: Hope for abducted Afenifere spokesman, as IGP unleashes special rescue squad

The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was walking when assailants on motorcycles stabbed and robbed him before fleeing. The report highlighted a growing trend of motorcycle-based robberies targeting both locals and foreigners in Abuja.

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An advisory accompanying the report urged Federal Capital Territory residents to remain vigilant, avoid walking alone in unsecured areas, refrain from displaying valuables, and opt for secure transportation.

The report stated, “On September 13, 2025, at approximately 0800hrs, a German national was stabbed and robbed along IBB Way in Abuja, near Maitama Primary School. The victim was walking when attacked by hoodlums on motorcycles. Robbery and assault, Use of motorcycles for quick escapes and Potential targeting of foreigners and locals. Exercise extreme caution when walking in Abuja, especially in areas with low security presence. Avoid displaying valuables or walking alone in isolated areas. Be aware of surroundings and potential threats. Consider using secure transportation services. Report incidents to local authorities immediately. Cooperate with law enforcement agencies to enhance security measures. Stay informed about local security situations and follow advisories from authorities and security focal persons.”

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Lagos police in fresh N1million extortion saga! *How they forced me to pay – musician

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Barely one month after authorities of the Lagos Police Command, dealt with the case of extortion of N1million by four of its operatives from some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in the state, they will have to return back to deal with yet another, for exactly the same amount.

This time, it is the case of one Efemena Richard, described as an upcoming artist, who just returned from South Africa and was heading to Warri, the oil city of Delta State to visit the mother, who is telling exactly the same story as the one faced by the NYSC members in Surulere area of the Nigeria’s financial capital.

Louis Edet House Abuja, headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), moved quickly in reaction to the development, which is already trending on social media to order prompt investigation into the matter, which is also attracting a lot of reactions.

Richard, while recounting his ugly experience in the hands of the policemen on Monday, narrated how he was forced to cough out N1 million after he was accosted by the officers, reportedly attached to the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, who thereafter, forced him to sign some papers, while taking his photographs at the same time.

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An X user identified as Harrison Gwamnishu, but tweeting as #HarrisonBbi18, who shared a video of the artiste narrating his ordeal via his X handle late Monday, October 21, 2024, recounted the details of exchange between him and the artiste, saying the said policemen forced him to transfer the sum from his account before going to Warri, Delta State.

The exchange, as he recounted, went thus: “Boss, [the] police just extorted me. They took 1 million naira from me after searching my phone at the airport and found nothing. I was headed to the airport when they stopped me. I told them I was already missing my flight but they refused to allow me to go.”

In the three-minute-long video which was tagged, highlighted him, saying: “One million naira extorted from a music artist #smookyhighgrade by some police officers attached to the Beesam Police Station before Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. They asked for $10,000. They gave me papers to write [on] that they will leave me if I write anything I’m asked to write, so I can go catch my flight. I could have left the money but I can’t, it’s a lot of money. Nigerians, please help me, N1 million is no small money.”

Richard, who said he made a video of one of the men, showing the dark-stained tips of his fingers which he said were proofs of thumbprints made, at the behest of the officers, also recalled that he was recorded in a video in which the officers forced him to speak to show that he was not under duress, and signed papers, to be used as his consent, after which he told his sister to send the N1m.

“They even asked for my blockchain wallet, I don’t know what concerns the police with that. I’m just an upcoming artiste, not a fraudster. I just came from South Africa to promote my music. I was heading home to see my mum before I experienced this.

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Reacting to the tweet on Monday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, called on the Lagos Police Command PRO, Benjamin Hundeyin, and the PRO, Airport Command, to commence an investigation into the matter.

“#PoliceNG_CRU, #PoliceNG, contact #BenHundeyin and PRO Airport Command to fish out these men and revert please. Thanks,” the tweet read.

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Treason: Find him, arrest him! Police gets court’s nod to hunt down fleeing Briton

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, issued a warrant of arrest against a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, and other Nigerians over allegations bordering on treason and terrorism, following an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), but moved by Audu Garba.

It was a day the IGP accused about 10 other detained Nigerians, including Lucky Obiyan, and Abdullahi Musa of conniving with Wynne, otherwise known as Andrew Povich, to plot the removal of President Bola Tinubu through unconstitutional means.

In the action seeking an order to declare them wanted, he said the fleeing defendants were involved in the case of conspiracy, treason, inciting to mutiny, inciting disaffection to government and terrorism, among others, contrary to Sections 97, 410, 413, 416 and 412 of the Penal Code, Northern States Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.

The affidavit in support of the motion said investigation so far conducted revealed that the fleeing defendants, were responsible for planning and coordination of the invasion and burning down of the High Court Complex, NCC office and printing press in Kano.

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They were also responsible for the attack on Kano Government House, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency’s office, NURTW office and several other buildings in August 2024, the affidavit, said, adding that others who are now at large are being tracked, hence, the need for the application.

Garba, who maintained that if the application is granted, it would enable all police officers in the country and other security agencies to use their mechanisms to secure the lawful arrest of the fleeing defendants, urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.

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