Breaking: Court Grants Abba Kyari Bail after 27 Months in Detention

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted DCP Abba Kyari, the former commander of the Force Intelligence Response Team, a two-week bail after 27 months in detention.

The bail is to allow Kyari to conclude the burial rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who passed away on May 5, 2024. Kyari’s bail application for his ongoing trial on drug-related charges filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will be determined on May 31.

Yachilla Kyari, survived by ten children including Abba Kyari, was buried according to Islamic rites on the day of her death. Despite Kyari’s inability to attend, many residents of Borno State gathered to pay their respects.

Kyari’s legal troubles began in 2022 when he, along with two senior police officers, Sunday Ubua and James Bawa, was suspended by the Police Service Commission.

The suspension followed allegations of involvement in a cocaine deal. The NDLEA subsequently declared Kyari wanted for alleged connections to an international drug cartel.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babalola accused Kyari and his team of arresting drug traffickers arriving from Ethiopia with 25kg of cocaine and seizing 15kg for their personal use. The case has attracted significant attention, given Kyari’s previously high-profile role in Nigerian law enforcement.

As Kyari prepares for his mother’s final rites, the legal community and public await the court’s decision on his bail application, which will significantly impact the trajectory of his trial.

More details to follow….