Abba Kyari Released On Bail After 27 Months In Prison Over Alleged Drug Trafficking

Abba Kyari, the suspended deputy commissioner of police, has been released 27 months after his arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to PUNCH, the spokesperson for the FCT command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Adamu Duza confirmed that Kyari was released from the Kuje Custodial Centre on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Abba Kyari was arrested on February 14, 2022, after being declared wanted by the NDLEA for alleged involvement with an international drug cartel.

On March 7, 2022, he was arraigned along with other members of the police intelligence response team and two suspected drug traffickers.

Kyari and four others pleaded not guilty, while the two suspected traffickers pleaded guilty and were convicted.

Attempts by Kyari and his co-defendants to get bail were repeatedly denied, as the judge and the court of appeal in Abuja rejected their applications, citing threats to their lives from criminals Kyari had previously arrested.

However, on May 22, 2024, Judge Emeka Nwite granted Kyari a two-week bail to attend the burial of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died on May 5.

The judge ruled that Kyari should deposit his international passport with the court and report to any NDLEA formation nearest to him, within the period of the bail.

Kyari also filed another bail application, and on May 31, the judge granted this motion for bail.

KanyiDaily recalls that in 2022, Abuja Federal High Court recently struck out a request by the Federal Government of Nigeria to extradite Abba Kyari, to the United States of America, to face trial over his alleged involvement with a notorious internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.