Activist and Convener of the civil society organisation, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has called for the persecution of the younger brother of embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, to prevent him from fleeing the country.
The call came after police investigations revealed that members of a syndicate led by an international scammer, Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi, paid N235,120,000 into his brother’s account.
Investigations further revealed that the former commander Intelligence Response Team transferred N44 million to his brother’s bank account in multiple transactions.
Adeyanju said the proper thing was for the police to have arrested Kyari’s brother, to prevent him from tampering with evidence.
He said, “In a sane country, the brother should have been arrested by now. It has been in the public domain for quite some time now. His brother might be taking extra steps to escape justice. He may be taking extra steps to delete and erase traces and evidence.
“This is what the police should have done. Arrest and charge him alongside his elder brother. I am calling on the police to quickly arrest him and prevent him from escaping from the country. This is the ideal thing to do.”
On the legality of denying Kyari bail, Adeyanju said bail is a right enjoyed by an accused or defendant but that it must be at the discretion of the court.
He said, “This is why bail application must be supported by facts and not just opinions. Bail is not an escape from justice if you look at our laws. Bail is something that an accused person or a defendant should naturally enjoy as a matter of right.
“There is nothing absurd about making a bail application. But bail is at the discretion of the court. It gives the accused ample time and facility to defend himself. So far, the federal government has not formally charged Abba Kyari.
Recall that on Monday, lawyer to the IRT Commander, Cynthia Ikena, filed a bail application on health grounds before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The lawyer claimed that Kyari is a diabetic and hypertensive patient.
The Judge refused the plea, noting that the suit contained weighty allegations against the Federal Government and that the court must allow the government to hear from it before taking any step.
“Upon studying the process of the Applicant and averments in support thereon, I am of the opinion that the respondent should be put on notice.” Justice Ekwo said.
Kyari was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on February 14, 2022, for alleged links in drug-related crimes.
He had earlier dragged the Federal Government to court, seeking his release from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency custody.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, he prayed court to compel the NDLEA to grant him bail on health grounds, pending the hearing and determination of his fundamental right enforcement application.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by the NDLEA to further detain Kyari and six others for 14 days.
The NDLEA told the court that the suspects are currently the subject of a drug trafficking investigation.
