Abba Kyari Granted Bail After 18 Months In Prison
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
Kyari, who has been in detention since his arrest in 2022, was granted bail on Thursday.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had declared the former super cop wanted over his alleged involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal.
He was subsequently arrested and arraigned in court, which ordered his remand in Kuje Prison, Abuja.
The police had set up a panel to probe the conduct of the former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police.
He was subsequently suspended from the force.
On Thursday, Justice Kolawole Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail under stringent conditions.
However, Kyari still has a criminal case before Justice Emeka Nwite of a federal high Court in Abuja.
The NDLEA had alleged that Kyari 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.
It alleged that the police officers committed the offence 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.“The court had earlier denied the Defendant’s bail, even as it ordered their remand at Kuje Prison.
The NDLEA’s revelation came months after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicted Kyari for conspiring with convicted fraudster and social media influencer, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, in a $1.1 million scam targeting Qatari business people.
Hushpuppi, who is known for his luxury life, was arrested in the UAE in June 2020 alongside 11 of his associates over allegations bordering on hacking, impersonation, scamming, banking fraud, and identity theft.
Ramatu, wife of Kyari, had collapsed at the lobby of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on March 14, 2022.
The incident occurred after the judge adjourned the suit till March 28, to decide on the bail applications.
On July 5, 2022, gunmen attacked the Kuje correctional facility and freed over 500 inmates, including suspected members of Boko Haram.
Although there were rumours that former top cop and other “high profile” inmates escaped, Abubakar Umar, spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), denied the claim.
Moving a bail application at the court session, Kyari, through his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, told the court that he had the opportunity to escape but declined to do so.
