The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) Federal Capital Territory Command has clarified that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari remains in its custody despite being discharged in one of the cases filed against him.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Samson Duza, made the clarification on Thursday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), following reports suggesting that Kyari had been fully discharged by the court.

Duza explained that the suspended police officer is facing two separate cases and that the court’s recent ruling only addressed the charge related to the alleged wrongful declaration of assets.

“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,” Duza said.

According to the NCoS spokesperson, the court discharged Kyari in the assets declaration case after ruling that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to support the allegations. The presiding judge reportedly described the case as weak, noting that the prosecution could not substantiate its claims.

However, Duza emphasised that Kyari remains in custody because the second case involving alleged drug-related offences is still ongoing in 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.

Abba Kyari, a former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force, has been facing legal challenges following allegations linking him to drug trafficking activities.

The correctional authorities reiterated that the suspended officer remains in lawful custody pending the determination of the drug-related case currently before the court.