Group Appeals for Abba Kyari’s Release, Citing Powers of Presidential Pardons

The Movement for the Emancipation of Nigeria (MEN) has urged the Federal Government to stop prosecuting suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and to free him immediately.

MEN called Kyari’s ongoing arrest “a grave injustice” in a statement released on Tuesday by its Comrade General, former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, in view of the recent flood of convicted criminals receiving presidential pardons.

“Despite recent presidential pardons granted to convicted drug traffickers, fraudsters, kidnappers, and bandits, many of whom were arrested by his team in the line of duty,” the statement reads. “The Movement for the Emancipation of Nigeria (MEN) observes with deep concern the continued detention and prosecution of DCP Abba Kyari.”

The late nationalist Herbert Macaulay, the late Major General Mamman Vatsa, and Maryam Sanda, who was given a death sentence for the murder of her husband, were among the 175 people who were reportedly pardoned by President Bola Tinubu last Thursday.

The recipients also included prisoners incarcerated for illicit mining, fraud, and manslaughter.

According to MEN, Kyari’s prosecution’s moral and legal justifications are essentially eliminated by the selective use of clemency, which “ridicules the principle of fairness.”

Kyari’s prosecution could deter law enforcement officers from putting their lives in danger to combat crime, the group warned.

“Kyari’s continuing arrest has essentially lost the moral and legal justification due to the recent wave of presidential amnesties and pardons. According to the group, his prosecution under these circumstances amounts to a double standard that compromises the integrity of Nigeria’s legal system.

MEN went on to call the trial “institutional betrayal against a man who once risked his life in the service of public order and national security.”

To put a stop to Kyari’s agony, the organization made a direct petition to President Tinubu and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation.

Therefore, we implore the President and the Attorney General of the Federation to drop all charges against DCP Abba Kyari and ensure his prompt release. A terrible precedent and a mockery of justice will result from anything less,” MEN said.

Formerly the leader of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Kyari was hailed as Nigeria’s “super cop” due to his string of high-profile arrests.

On February 14, 2022, he was taken into custody after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) issued a wanted list accusing him of plotting to tamper with and traffic 21.35 kilograms of cocaine that had been taken from suspected traffickers.

He has since entered a not guilty plea to the accusations.