The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, will still remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) despite being granted bail on Thursday by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Recall that Kyari was granted the N50 million bail by the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. But the respite wasn’t good enough for the embattled police officer as a sister court has refused to grant him bail.
Kyari and two of his siblings were charged before Justice Omotosho, after being accused of failing to declare their assets to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The NDLEA had filed the 24-count charge marked, FHC/ ABJ/CR/408/2022, against Kyari and his two siblings – Mohammed Baba Kyari and Ali Kyari.
However, in a ruling on Thursday, Justice Omotosho granted conditional bail to Kyari with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Omotosho added that the sureties must have property worth N25 million within the court’s jurisdiction, among other conditions.
The judge held that he was minded to grant Kyari bail because he did not escape when he had the chance to do so during an attack on Kuje Prison on July 5, 2022.
According to the court, the majority of inmates at the correctional centre escaped during the attack but Kyari and some others did not escape.
Justice Omotosho said, Kyari’s refusal to escape, proves that he is willing to face the allegations against him and not jump bail.
The judge also noted that the allegations against Kyari are bailable.
However, the judge held that even when Kyari meets the conditions, the endorsement of his release warrant is subject to developments in a sister-case in which he is being tried with four others on alleged involvement in dealing with illicit drugs.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, who is handling the charge had refused to grant bail to Kyari and his co-defendants.
