Abba Kyari Associate Denied Bail by Nigerian Court

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has recently dismissed an appeal filed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sunday J. Ubua, an associate of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari. Ubua had filed the appeal seeking bail, but the court held that the appeal lacked merit.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the appellant did not provide any new materials to warrant departing from the earlier decision on the issue by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Stephen Adah, who delivered the lead judgment, affirmed the ruling by Justice Nwite rendered on March 28, 2022, rejecting Ubua’s application for bail.

According to Justice Adah, the prosecution had provided enough materials before the court to warrant the rejection of the bail application. Ubua is standing trial with Abba Kyari and three other former members of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Investigation, and Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). They are being prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on charges relating to unlawful dealing in drugs and attempting to tamper with evidence.

This case has been closely watched by many Nigerians as it involves high-ranking police officers accused of serious crimes. The case began when the United States indicted Kyari in a fraud case involving popular Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi. According to the indictment, Kyari was accused of accepting bribes from Hushpuppi to arrest and jail one of his associates in Nigeria.

Following the indictment, the Police Service Commission suspended Kyari, while the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, ordered an internal investigation into the allegations. Kyari denied the allegations, stating that he only acted as a mediator between Hushpuppi and the arrested associate, who was eventually released.

The trial of Kyari and his co-defendants, including Ubua, has been ongoing, with the prosecution presenting its case before the court. The dismissal of Ubua’s appeal for bail means that he will remain in custody as the trial continues.

The case has raised questions about the integrity of the Nigerian police force, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations against Kyari and his associates. The case has also highlighted the need for law enforcement agencies to be held accountable for their actions and for reforms to be made to improve the integrity of the Nigerian justice system.

The dismissal of Ubua’s appeal for bail is a significant development in this case, and it remains to be seen how it will impact the ongoing trial of Kyari and his co-defendants. As the case continues to unfold, it will be important for the Nigerian government and law enforcement agencies to take steps to restore public trust in the justice system and ensure that those accused of crimes are held accountable.