Court grants Abba Kyari N50m bail 17 months after arrest

Justice James Omotosho of Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N50m bail to suspended DCP Abba Kyari in a charge in which he and two of his siblings are accused of failing to declare assets to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The NDLEA had filed the 24-count charge, against Kyari and his two siblings – Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, and they were arraigned in June.

In a ruling, Justice Omotosho granted conditional bail to Kyari at the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.

The judge added that the sureties must have property worth N25m within the Federal Capital Territory, among other conditions.

The judge held that, even when Kyari meets the bail conditions, the endorsement of his release warrant is subject to developments in a sister case before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, in which he is being tried with four others on alleged involvement in dealing illicit drugs.

Justice Omotosho said despite the Kuje Prison jailbreak by terrorists on July 5, 2022, Kyari refused to escape where about 90 per cent of the inmates escaped freely.

The judge further said all the allegations are bailable and he is not a flight risk.

He said that the anti-narcotic agency did not controvert the argument.

The judge said failure to counter the submission was an admission by the NDLEA.

Besides, Justice Omotosho held that the offence with which he was being charged was a bailable one.

His two siblings were earlier granted bail by Justice Omotosho.