The embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been retained in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) despite being granted N50 million bail.
Recall that Kyari was granted the N50 million bail by the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday.
Kyari, a former head of the Nigeria Police Response Team (IRT) and two of his siblings were charged before Justice Omotosho, after being accused of failing to declare their assets to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The NDLEA had filed the 24-count charge marked, FHC/ ABJ/CR/408/2022, against Kyari and his two siblings – Mohammed Baba Kyari and Ali Kyari.
However, in a ruling on Thursday, Justice Omotosho granted conditional bail to Kyari with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Omotosho added that the sureties must have property worth N25 million within the court’s jurisdiction, among other conditions.
The judge held that he was minded to grant Kyari bail because he did not escape when he had the chance to do so during an attack on Kuje Prison on July 5, 2022.
According to the court, the majority of inmates at the correctional centre escaped during the attack but Kyari and some others did not escape.
Kyari’s refusal to escape, Justice Omotosho said, proves that he is willing to face the allegations against him and not jump bail.