Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory after 27 months of confinement.
Kyari was detained after being arrested on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for alleged involvement in an international drug cartel.
Kyari, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—were arraigned on March 7, 2022.
Two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, were also arrested and charged at the Enugu Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
Kyari and the IRT members pleaded not guilty, but Umeibe and Ezenwanne pleaded guilty and were convicted.
Despite several applications, Kyari's bail applications were consistently declined until a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
On May 22, 2024, Judge Emeka Nwite granted Kyari bail so that he may complete the funeral ceremonies for his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died on May 5.
Kyari's bail requirements included depositing his passport with the court and reporting to the nearest NDLEA office throughout the bail period.
The court set May 31, 2024, as the hearing date for Kyari's primary bail application on the drug trafficking charges.
Giving an update, Adamu Duza, spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service of the Federal Capital Territory Command, confirmed to our reporter on Friday night that Kyari satisfied his bail conditions and was released on Friday.
