He wrote Climate of Corruption in 1978, the first English language novel published throughout Northern Nigeria.
Born in Katsina, Yari studied at the London School of Journalism, and between 1966 and 1967 Norwegian literature at the University of Oslo.
[1][2] He started his journalistic career in 1962, and later worked for the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and as general manager of the publishing house Gaskiya Corporation.
[1][2][3] In 1978, he debuted as a novelist with Climate of Corruption, the first English language novel published in Northern Nigeria, which was a commercial hit.
[1][2] He died at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina on 18 March 2023, at the age of 80.