Abuja Federal Court denies suspended DCP Abba Kyari bail

By Innocent Raphael 

The Abuja Federal High Court has denied bail to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. 

Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding over the case, ruled that granting bail to Kyari was at the court’s discretion as per section 161 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Justice Nwite stated that Kyari failed to present sufficient evidence to justify granting him bail.

Previously, on May 22, Kyari was granted a temporary two-week bail to attend his mother’s burial. This period was extended by an additional week following an application for extension filed by Kyari. He met the bail conditions and was released on June 1.

However, during today’s proceedings, Justice Nwite refused to extend the previous bail order and instead ordered an accelerated hearing of the case. Kyari has been in custody since his arrest on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on charges related to involvement with an international drug cartel.

Kyari, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022.

Two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were apprehended at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also charged. 

While Kyari and the IRT members pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were subsequently convicted.