Court Grants Abba Kyari Bail in Non-declaration of Assets Charge
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million, the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari.
The bail is in respect of his trial in alleged failure to declare his assets, wherein he was recently arraigned with two of his siblings.
Besides this fresh suit, Kyari is standing trial alongside four of his colleagues in the Inspector General special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) over alleged drug deals.
The once celebrated ‘supercop’ and two of his siblings in the fresh suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, were specifically accused of failing to declare their assets at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The anti-drug agency had last month arraigned the suspended DCP and his siblings — Mohammed Baba Kyari and Ali Kyari — on a 24-count charge.
They pleaded not guilty and prayed the court to admit them to bail so as to adequately prepare for their trial.
Delivering ruling in the bail application of Kyari, the court observed that the charges are bail-able and that bail is also at the discretion of the court.
Besides, the court held that there was no evidence that Kyari was a flight risk and will not attend trial if released from custody.
The judge subsequently admitted the first defendant to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court had, in an earlier ruling, granted bail to the other defendants in the case.
The sureties, the court held, must have property worth N25 million within the jurisdiction of the court; deposit their international passports; their statement of accounts; title deed of the sureties’ property and recent passport photographs with the Registrar of the court.
Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho clarified that even when Kyari meets the bail conditions, the endorsement of his release warrant is subject to developments in the drug-related trial before a sister court.
According to the judge, Kyari’s release warrant in respect of the case before him, will only be signed if the other pending criminal cases are concluded or that he is granted bail in those cases.
Justice Emeka Nwite, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had twice refused to grant bail to Kyari and his four colleagues in the drug-related trial.
Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho has adjourned till October 18 for trial.
