A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted bail to suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
Justice Kolawole Omotosho granted Kyari bail under stringent conditions.
However, he still has a criminal case before Justice Emeka Nwite of a federal high Court in Abuja.
In Thursday’s ruling and in an application filed by the defendant, Justice Omotosho granted conditional bail to Kyari at the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Omotosho added that the sureties must have property worth N25m within the jurisdiction.
Also, Kyari and his sureties are to deposit their international passport, their statement of accounts, the title deed of the sureties’ property and recent passport photographs with the court registrar.
In granting his application, Justice Omotosho held that there was no evidence that Kyari was a flight risk, pointing out that the NDLEA did not deny his claim that he was in Kuje prison during the last prison break, but did not escape even when he had the opportunity.
He held that the offences with which Kyari and his co-defendants were charged are bailable and adjourned further hearing in the case to October 18, 2023.
Kyari has been in detention since his arrest in 2022.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had declared Kyari wanted over his alleged involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal.
The agency said Abba Kyari, who is allegedly an ally of fraudster Abass Olorunwa, better known as Hushpuppi, is a member of an international drug cartel.
He was subsequently arrested and arraigned in court, which ordered his remand in Kuje Prison, Abuja.
A panel was set up by the Police to probe the conduct of the former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police.
He was subsequently suspended from the force.
Credit: The Guardian