Updated: Abba Kyari applies for bail on health grounds

By Taiye Agbaje

The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, who is in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has applied for bail on health grounds.

Kyari filed the application, via his lawyer C. O. Ikena, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday.

When the matter was called, Ikena informed the court that she had an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ANJ/CS/182/22 before the court.

She said: “I filed a motion to admit the applicant (Kyari) to a bail on health grant pending the determination of the substantive matter,” she said.

Justice Ekwo then asked: “Where is the applicant?”

“He is at the NDLEA’s custody my lord,” Ikenna responded.

The judge then asked the lawyer what the substantive matter was all about and she said: “The substantive matter is about infringement on his fundamental rights and false allegations.”

Ekwo told the lawyer that going by the averments in the application, the respondent (NDLEA) would have to be put on notice and a date fixed to hear the motion.

He said this was so because the averment Ikena made would need a response from the NDLEA.

“But my lord, his (Kyari’s) condition at the custody is critical,” Ikenna responded.

Justice Ekwo, however, insisted that the NDLEA be put on notice.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 24 for the motion to be taken.

He also ordered the NDLEA to file their response before the next adjourned date.

How Abba Kyari landed in NDLEA’s custody

The NDLEA had, on Feb. 14, declared Kyari wanted over alleged links with an international drug cartel.

Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson of the NDLEA, had announced the development, in a press briefing.

Babafemi said the anti-drug agency decided to declare Kyari wanted because he did not honor the invitation sent to him.

Kyari had been earlier suspended after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had indicted him of conspiring with Hushpuppi, a self-confessed international fraudster, in a $1.1 million scam.

The suspended police officer had denied the allegation, claiming that his “hands are clean”.

The Nigeria Police on Feb. 14, however, arrested Kyari and four other police officers for their involvement in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, discreditable, unethical, and unprofessional conduct.

Others are official corruption and tampering with exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a transnational drug cartel.

The arrest of Kyari and others came after the NDLEA declared him wanted.

The police then handed Kyari and others involved in the alleged offense to the NDLEA.