Asset declaration: Court grants Abba Kyari N50m bail

[FILES] Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and former head of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Abba Kyari and ‘his men’ at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, granted suspended DCP Abba Kyari N50 million bail in a charge in which he and two of his siblings were accused of failing to declare assets to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

NDLEA had filed the 24-count charge against Kyari and his brothers, Mohammed Baba Kyari and Ali Kyari.

In his ruling, Justice James Omotosho granted conditional bail to Abba Kyari in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Omotosho added that the sureties must have property worth N25 milion within the court’s jurisdiction, among other conditions.

However, the judge held that even when Kyari meets the conditions, the endorsement of his release warrant is subject to developments in a sister-case in which he is being tried with four others on alleged involvement in dealing in illicit drugs.

The NDLEA had filed a 24-count charge in suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022 against Kyari and his two siblings in respect of which they were arraigned last month.

Justice Omotosho held that there was no evidence that he was a flight risk and that he would not attend trial, adding that the offences with which Abba Kyari and his co-defendants were charged are available.

He noted that the NDLEA did not deny Abba Kyari’s claim that he was in Kuje prison during the last prison break, but chose to stay put instead of escaping.

He said: “On the possibility of the first defendant attending his trial, it is pertinent to state that, according to the affidavits in support of the application, the applicant stated that he was in detention at the Kuje prisons when the jailbreak of 5th July, 2022 occurred and he stayed put, even though he had the opportunity of escaping.
“This deposition was not challenged by the complainant/respondent which means it is admitted. This shows that the applicant is unwilling to run away from his trial and has shown willingness to attend court when required.

“I am, however, minded to grant him bail as he has been in detention for a long time and also based on his constitutional right to bail according to Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

Kyari’s two siblings were equally granted bail by the court.
Meanwhile, proceedings in the case has been adjourned till October 18.