Abba Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja after spending 27 months in detention
Abba Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja after spending 27 months in detention.
Kyari’s detention commenced on February 14, 2022, following his arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NLDEA, on allegations of involvement with an international drug cartel.
He, alongside four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022.
Two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were apprehended at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also brought before the court.
Although Kyari and the IRT members pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne admitted guilt and were subsequently convicted.
Despite several attempts, Kyari’s bail applications were consistently rejected until a recent ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Judge Emeka Nwite on May 22, 2024, granted Kyari bail to enable him to complete the burial ceremonies of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who passed away on May 5.
As part of the bail conditions, Kyari was mandated to surrender his passport to the court and report to the nearest NDLEA office throughout the bail period.
The court set May 31, 2024, as the date for the hearing on Kyari’s primary bail application regarding the drug trafficking charges.
Providing updates, Adamu Duza, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, of the Federal Capital Territory Command, confirmed on Friday night of May 31, that Kyari fulfilled his bail requirements and was released on the same day.
“DCP Kyari has perfected his bail conditions, and has since been released today,” Duza said.
