Court releases Abba Kyari for mother’s funeral rites

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory after spending 27 months in detention.

Kyari, who was arrested on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged involvement with an international drug cartel, was seen in a photo circulating on social media.

He was seen in the photo with his family and friends with helium balloons on the wall that read “Welcome Back.”

On March 7, 2022, Kyari was arraigned alongside four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT): Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu.

They were charged for their alleged collaboration with suspected drug traffickers Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/57/2022, Kyari is facing trial for his involvement in the deal of 17.55 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Kyari was also accused of attempting to obstruct officers in the exercise of their duties by offering them the sum of $61,400.00 as an inducement to prevent the testing of the 17.55 kilogrammes of substance.

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.

Kyari’s release comes after he was granted a two-week bail to allow him to return home and complete the funeral rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died on May 5, 2024.

Following an application by Kyari’s legal team, Justice Emeka Nwike of Abuja’s Federal High Court granted him two weeks’ bail on compassionate grounds.

Justice Nwite granted him temporary bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.

According to a copy of the ruling sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday, the judge ordered Kyari to submit his passport to the court.

He was also instructed to always report to any NDLEA formation nearest to him while the two-week bail lasted.

The judge said the surety must be a lawyer who is willing to deposit his call-to-bar certificate with the Deputy Registrar of the Court.

Kyari, the eldest of his mother’s 10 children, was unable to attend her burial, which was conducted according to Islamic rites on the day she died.

His application for bail to attend the conclusion of her burial rites was not opposed by the prosecution.

The judge, however, fixed Friday, May 31, for the determination of his proper bail application in his ongoing drug trial.

Justice Nwite had twice in the past refused to grant him bail.