- Kyari’s bail applications were repeatedly denied until a recent decision by a Federal High Court in Abuja
Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory after 27 months of detention.
Kyari was arrested on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for alleged involvement with an international drug cartel and subsequently detained.
He, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022. Additionally, two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also charged.
Kyari and the IRT members pleaded not guilty, while Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were convicted.
Kyari’s bail applications were repeatedly denied until a recent decision by a Federal High Court in Abuja. On May 22, 2024, Judge Emeka Nwite granted Kyari bail to allow him to complete the burial rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who passed away on May 5.
As part of his bail conditions, Kyari had to deposit his passport with the court and report to the nearest NDLEA office during the bail period. The court scheduled a hearing for May 31, 2024, to address Kyari’s main bail application concerning the drug trafficking charges.
Giving updates, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service of the Federal Capital Territory Command, Adamu Duza, confirmed to our correspondent on Friday night that Kyari met his bail conditions and was released on Friday.
Duza said, “DCP Kyari has perfected his bail conditions, and has since been released today.”