A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, N50m bail.
Kyari was, on Thursday, granted bail by Justice James Omotosho in a charge in which he and two of his siblings, Baba and Ali, were accused of failing to declare their assets to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Ruling 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.
The judge added that the sureties must have property worth N25m within the jurisdiction.
The court also ordered that Kyari and his sureties should deposit their international passports, statements of accounts, title deeds of the sureties’ properties and recent passport photographs with the court registrar as part of the bail conditions.
Furthermore, the judge subjected the endorsement of Kyari’s release warrant to developments in another case pending before Justice Emeka Nwite wherein Kyari was being tried with four others on drug-related offences.
In granting Kyari’s bail application, Justice Omotosho held that there was no evidence that he was a flight risk and that he would not attend his trial.
The Justice pointed out that the NDLEA did not deny Kyari’s claim that he was in Kuje prison during the last prison break but did not escape even when he had the opportunity.
“On the possibility of the 1st defendant attending his trial, it is pertinent to state that, according to the affidavits in support of the application, the applicant stated that he was in detention at the Kuje prisons when the jailbreak of July 5, 2022, occurred and he stayed put, even though he had the opportunity of escaping.
“This deposition was not challenged by the complainant/respondent which means it is admitted. This shows that the applicant is unwilling to run away from his trial and has shown a willingness to attend court when required.
“This piece of fact will work in favour of the applicant, in that, it is proof to the court that the applicant would not jump bail if granted the same. I note that there have been rulings denying the 1st defendant/applicant bail,” the judge said.
The court adjourned further hearing in the case to October 18.
Meanwhile, rights activist, Rinu Oduala, on Twitter wrote: “Abba Kyari, a corrupt policeman who led the criminal murderous unit called SARS was granted bail today by a high court in Abuja. This further perpetuates impunity and fails to hold criminals accountable for their actions. #EndSARS.”
Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, when contacted by our correspondent, said he would not react to the judgment until he had seen the certified true copy.
