A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the evidence of a defence witness in the alleged drug-trafficking trial involving suspended police officer Abba Kyari and four other officers.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the evidence of John Nwonke, the second defence witness in the case, be struck out after he failed to appear in court despite an earlier warning.
The judge had previously cautioned that Nwonke’s testimony would be struck out if he failed to return to court to continue his evidence.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, the witness was again absent, prompting the court to dismiss his evidence from the record.
Mr Kyari, a former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), is standing trial alongside four other police officers over allegations relating to drug trafficking.
The defendants have denied the allegations.
The case is being prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which alleges that the defendants were involved in offences connected with cocaine trafficking.
The court is expected to continue hearing evidence from the parties as the trial progresses.
