Abba Kyari granted N50m bail after 18 months in prison

Abba Kyari, the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja after spending 18 months in detention.

Justice Kolawole Omotosho issued the bail order for the embattled police officer on Thursday. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had declared Kyari wanted for his alleged involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal.

In February 2022, Kyari and members of his team were taken into custody after the NDLEA accused them of tampering with drug exhibits. Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne were arrested by the IRT team in January 2022 in connection with 21.25kg of cocaine.

They were subsequently handed over to the NDLEA, along with the seized cocaine. Umeibe and Ezenwanne have since been released from prison after their conviction.

However, Kyari’s release does not mean he can go home immediately.

According to Hamza Kyari, a counsel in his team of lawyers, Kyari still has another pending case before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court Abuja, where his bail is yet to be decided.