ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted DCP Abba Kyari, the former commander of the Force Intelligence Response Team, a two-week bail period after 27 months in detention. The decision allows Kyari to conclude the burial rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari.
Kyari, who has been in custody since February 14, 2022, due to drug-related charges filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was unable to attend his mother’s burial on May 5, 2024. Despite his absence, residents of Borno State turned out in large numbers to honor Yachilla, who was laid to rest according to Islamic rites.
The court has scheduled the final determination of Kyari’s bail application for Friday, May 31. This follows a long period of legal proceedings stemming from his alleged involvement in a cocaine deal. The Police Service Commission had suspended Kyari, alongside two other senior officers, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunday Ubua and Assistant Superintendent of Police James Bawa, on February 14, 2022.
The NDLEA declared Kyari wanted in connection with an international drug cartel, accusing him and his team of seizing 25kg of cocaine from traffickers arriving from Ethiopia but allegedly keeping 15kg of the substance for themselves.
Kyari’s case has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues of corruption and accountability within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies. The temporary release for his mother’s burial rites marks a notable moment in his ongoing legal battles.