AFR Business Media

AFR Business Media

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AFR Business

Court bars lawyers and journalists from Abba Kyari’s drug trial

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Journalists covering the ongoing trial of disgraced police officer Abba Kyari were on Tuesday restrained from entering Court 10 of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court for the proceeding.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order following an application by Sunday Joseph, counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Mr Joseph, a director of NDLEA’s legal and prosecution department, had applied to protect the next witness listed to give evidence in the trial.

The lawyer prayed the court that other lawyers, litigants, and visitors, including journalists, who were in the court should not be allowed to be in the courtroom while the hearing lasted.

Mr Nwite then stood down the matter to allow non-parties in the suit against the suspended police officers to move out.

However, when the judge came in, a lawyer, Emmanuel Oluwabiyi, whose case was number 11 on the cause list, told Mr Nwite that he was in court for another matter.

“I am embarrassed by the application, my lord,” he said.

Mr Nwite then pleaded with lawyers not in Mr Kyari’s matter to bear with the court in the interim.

When journalists asked the NDLEA’s lawyer about the reason for the application, he said it was to protect the witnesses, who are intelligent officers, in the matter.

When asked about his reaction to the opinions of other lawyers in court, Mr Joseph said, “There is a doctrine of state privilege in the interest of national security.”

He said it had been observed that members of the inspector general police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) loyal to Mr Kyari were still coming to court.

“And you don’t know who is who, so it is for the witness’ protection,” he alleged.

Mr Joseph said though the agency had been calling witnesses, the present witnesses could not be exposed to the public.

The hearing is still ongoing as of the time of filing the report.

Mr Nwite had, on March 22, dismissed an application filed by Mr Kyari and others seeking an order dismissing the NDLEA’s charge against them.

Mr Kyari and three other co-defendants in the suit bordering on drug offences had filed the application.

The applicants are Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubia, Insp Simon Agirigba and Insp John Nuhu.

Nigeria’s secret police says Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists have ‘active cells’ in Kano, Kaduna

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The State Security Service says its operatives, soldiers, and police launched raids on Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist hideouts in Kaduna and Kano. The secret police revealed that the terror groups are establishing “active cells” in the states.

Peter Afunanya, the spokesperson for SSS, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the raids of the hideouts in the two states were simultaneously carried out in the early hours of Monday.

According to him, during the raid in Kaduna, the terrorists deployed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against SSS operatives.

He said one of the terrorists wore a suicide jacket and blew himself up while three suspects were arrested.

Mr Afunanya said items seized during a search on the group’s accommodation after police EOD had diffused other IEDs were two suicide jackets, one AK-47 rifle, a pistol and one laptop.

“In Kano state, two suspects were arrested while recovered items were a pistol, 11 mobile phones, two hand grenades and one fully charged AK-47 magazine. Other items recovered are two empty AK-47 magazines, one Peugeot 307 car and an ID card belonging to a suspect that escaped,” he said.

Mr Afunanya said intelligence had earlier revealed that high-profile terrorist targets were regrouping in the North-West to launch attacks.

He said the military operations in the North-East had forced the insurgents’ relocation to the North-West and central zones to establish active cells.

“The service commends the Nigerian military and police for their resilience and support, which led to the success of the operation,” he added. “The sustained interagency synergy is, without doubt, a game changer in counter-threat actions.”

Mr Afunanya said the SSS would continue cooperating with stakeholders to achieve a peaceful environment critical to pursuing legitimate businesses by law-abiding citizens and residents.

Naira depreciates further against dollar as new week begins

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The naira depreciated against the dollar on Monday, exchanging for N464 at the investors’ and exporters’ window.

The rate represented a decrease of 0.36 per cent when compared to the N462.33 it exchanged at the close of business on Friday.

The open indicative rate closed at N463 .50 to the dollar on Monday. A spot exchange rate of N467 was used for trading within the day before it settled at N464.

The spot exchange rate was determined instantly.

The naira sold for as low as N460 to the dollar within the day’s trading.

A total turnover of 55.10 million dollars was traded at the official Investors’ and Exporters’ window.

Last Wednesday, the naira depreciated against the dollar, exchanging for N463.02 at the investors’ and exporters’ window. The rate represented a decrease of 0.17 per cent compared to the N462.25 it exchanged to the dollar on Tuesday.

The open indicative rate closed at N463 to the dollar on Wednesday. The naira sold for as low as N460 to the dollar within the day’s trading.

Labour Party, PDP lawmakers-elect not interested in speakership says “Greater Majority”

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Opposition parties’ members-elect in the 10th House of Representatives have backed out of the speakership contest ahead of the June 5 inauguration.

The opposition resolved not to run for speaker and deputy speaker, revealing they do not have any lawmakers-elect interested in the positions.

Afam Ogene (Labour Party-Anambra), the co-spokesman for the caucus known as ‘Greater Majority’, disclosed this at a meeting in Abuja.

He said at the end of the period given to undertake that assignment, no legislator-elect of the minority caucus stepped forward to indicate interest.

The political parties that made up the caucus include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Young People’s Party (YPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The caucus had earlier mooted a plan to upstage the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by contesting for the speaker and deputy speaker.

An 11-man committee charged with the task of shortlisting, screening and eventual recommendation of aspirants for presiding officers were set up.

However, Mr Ogene disclosed that at the end of the period given to undertake that assignment, no member of the minority caucus stepped forward to indicate interest.

Mr Ogene said they had also met with APC aspirants, who seemed to be qualified, adding that the meeting details with the aspirants would not be disclosed until other members were briefed.

He, however, said the caucus would remain united as one of the opposition parties.

“We did meet with those aspiring for the position of speaker, but because we have not briefed our members, I will not go into details of our interface,” the legislator stated. “I can assure you that everyone that puts him or herself running for the position appears to be qualified.”

Police uncover $870 million worth of cocaine hidden in bananas

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Italian police on Tuesday said they seized 2.7 tonnes of cocaine from a port in the southern region of Calabria.

Italy’s Guardia di Finanza police said they estimated the drugs to have a street value of some €800 million ($870 million).

The police said officers found 2,734kg of extremely pure cocaine in two 12-metre-long refrigerated containers hidden among 78 tonnes of bananas.

This took place in the port of Gioia Tauro, calling the operation a “record seizure.’’

The containers coming from Guayaquil in Ecuador were bound for Armenia and were due to go by the Georgian city of Batumi, the Guardia di Finanza said.