The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that Abba Kyari, the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, is still in custody.
This clarification comes after a court discharged Kyari from a 23-count charge related to alleged money laundering and non-declaration of assets, but he still faces a pending drug trafficking trial before Justice Emeka Nwite, scheduled for March 16, 2026.
While speaking during an interview on Thursday in Abuja, Ncos spokesman, Samson Duza, explained that although Kyari was discharged in one of the cases against him, he remains in custody in Kuje due to another pending charge.
Duza noted that Kyari is standing trial in two separate matters.
He said the recent court ruling applied only to the case involving alleged wrongful declaration of assets.
According to him, the court freed Kyari in that matter after determining that the prosecution did not present adequate evidence to support the allegations.
“He is having two cases. One for wrongful declaration of assets and the other for a drug-related offence.
“The one for wrongful declaration of assets is the one he was discharged for lack of merit or evidence.”
The CPRO further stated that the trial judge characterised the asset declaration case as weak, pointing out that the prosecution failed to substantiate its claims against the suspended officer.
However, Duza stressed that Kyari remains in custody because the second case, which borders on alleged drug-related offences, is still ongoing before the court.
“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,” he said.
