The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, declined the bail request by the suspended deputy commissioner of police and former head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari.

The court also rejected the applications by his co-defendants, with whom he faces charges of illegal dealing in cocaine.

The judge, Justice Emeka Nwite held that having considered the affidavit evidence supplied by parties and proof of evidence, he was convinced that the prosecution has successfully raised reasonable presumption of criminal responsibility on the part of the defendants.

Thelagostimes recalls that Kyari and the four IRT members faced charges bordering on illicit dealing in 21.35kg of cocaine between January 19 and 25, 2022, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act.

After their arraignment, the defendants sought applied for bail, arguing that they were entitled to bail on the grounds that the alleged offences do not attract capital punishment and that they are still presumed innocent.

However, ruling on bail requests, Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution that sufficient evidence had been placed before the court to warrant the refusal of bail.