Court grants DCP Abba Kyari N50m bail -- 17 months after arrest

Court grants DCP Abba Kyari N50m bail — 17 months after arrest

July 06

17:59 2023

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A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), in the sum of N50 million.

In June, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) filed a 24-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022 against Kyari and his two siblings – Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari – over non-disclosure of assets.

In a ruling on Thursday, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, said the charges against the defendants are bailable.

The judge granted bail to the suspended cop in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

Omotosho added that the sureties must have property worth N25 million within the court’s jurisdiction.

However, the court added that Kyari’s release from prison custody is dependent on what happens in another case in which he is being tried alongside four others for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The court had earlier released Kyari’s siblings on bail.

DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE

Kyari was arrested on February 14, 2022, after the NDLEA declared him wanted over alleged links with an international drug cartel.

On March 7, 2022, he was arraigned alongside Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu who are members of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Others are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne — two suspected drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Upon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty.

However, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, the sixth and seventh defendants pleaded guilty and were convicted accordingly.

Since then, applications by the defendants to be released on bail have been rejected.

Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge refused to grant the defendants bail twice after they argued that their lives were being threatened by criminals who Kyari’s team arrested.