Why we’re still keeping Abba Kyari in custody – NCoS

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has explained why it is still keeping suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, in its custody despite being discharged in one of the cases against him on Thursday.

Samson Duza, the spokesperson of FCT Command of NCos gave the clarification in an interview on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to reports that Kyari had been discharged by a court.

Duza explained that Kyari was facing two separate cases, noting that the recent court decision only affected the charge bordering on alleged wrongful declaration of assets.

According to him, the court discharged Kyari in that case after ruling that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to sustain the allegations.

“He is having two cases. One for wrongful declaration of assets and the other for a drug-related offence.

“The one for wrongful declaration of assets is the one he was discharged for lack of merit or evidence.”

He emphasised that Kyari remained in custody because the second case involving alleged drug offences was still before the court.

“The ongoing drug-related trial has not been concluded, and as such, Kyari would continue to remain in the custody of the NCoS pending the outcome of the proceedings,” he said.

Kyari, a former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, has been facing legal battles following allegations linking him to drug trafficking activities.

The clarification by the correctional authorities followed widespread reports suggesting that Kyari has been fully discharged by the court.

The NCoS reiterated that the suspended police officer remains in lawful custody pending the determination of the drug-related case currently before the court.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had also clarified that its substantive drug trafficking case against Abba Kyari, remains active and is scheduled to continue in court on March 16.

The agency stressed that the matter is separate from the case in which Kyari was discharged on Thursday.

NDLEA made the clarification while reacting to a ruling by Justice James Omotosho, who discharged Kyari on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and non-declaration of assets filed against him by the agency.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that the ruling by Justice Omotosho should not be confused with the main drug-related case against the suspended police officer.

Babafemi emphasised that the drug trafficking trial remains ongoing and would continue as scheduled before Justice Nwite.

(NAN)