Abba Kyari, the former head of the Rapid Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police, has been granted bail after spending 18 months in prison custody.
In February 2022, Kyari and some members of his team were taken into custody following allegations by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of tampering with drug exhibits. The IRT team had arrested Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne in connection with 21.25kg of cocaine and handed them, along with the cocaine, to the NDLEA.
The case took a dramatic turn when the NDLEA declared Abba Kyari and some IRT members wanted for evidence tampering. Eventually, both Umeibe and Ezenwanne were released from prison after their conviction.
After several attempts to secure bail, Justice Omotosho of Federal High Court 9 granted Kyari bail on Thursday. The judge noted that Kyari and his team did not attempt to escape when Kuje Prison was attacked in July 2022, indicating their willingness to face the allegations against them. The judge also deemed the allegations to be bailable, and Kyari was considered not to be a flight risk.
A member of Abba Kyari’s defense team, Barr Suleiman Shehu, welcomed the court’s decision as a well-deserved victory.
Please note that the information provided is based on the given news, and the situation may have developed further since the cutoff date of my knowledge in September 2021.
