Abuja: The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) FCT Command has confirmed that the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, remains in its custody. This comes despite his discharge in one of the cases against him.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Samson Duza, the command’s Public Relations Officer, clarified this in an interview on Thursday, amid reports suggesting Kyari’s discharge by a court.
Duza explained that Kyari is involved in two separate cases. The recent court decision only affected the charge related to alleged wrongful declaration of assets. The court discharged Kyari from that particular case, ruling that the prosecution did not present enough evidence to support the allegations. He noted, “He is having two cases. One for wrongful declaration of assets and the other for a drug-related offence.” The discharge was specifically for the asset declaration case, which the judge described as lacking merit due to insufficient evidence.
Kyari continues to remain in custody because the second case, involving alleged drug offences, is still ongoing. “The ongoing drug-related trial has not been concluded, and as such, Kyari would continue to remain in the custody of the NCoS pending the outcome of the proceedings,” Duza stated. Reports from NAN highlight that Kyari, previously head of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, is facing legal challenges following allegations linking him to drug trafficking activities.
The NCoS emphasized that Kyari remains in lawful custody until the resolution of the drug-related case currently before the court. This clarification follows widespread reports suggesting that Kyari had been fully discharged by the court, which the correctional authorities have now addressed.