Abba Kyari, the suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), has denied ownership of a property linked to him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in his ongoing trial over alleged non-disclosure of assets.
Testifying on Tuesday before James Omotosho, the presiding
judge of the federal high court, Abuja, Kyari said some of the contentious
properties belonged to his late father, who had “about 30 children”.
The former head of the police intelligence response team
(IRT) said he was surprised by the allegations, adding that the documents for
the assets are with the Borno state’s ministry of land.
Kyari also denied ownership of a polo ground reportedly
linked to him in Borno, adding that he could not afford such an expanse of
land.
“Even Dangote, who is the richest man in Nigeria, does not
own such a property; how much more someone like me,” he told the court.
“The polo ground had been in existence even when I was a
child. We used to go there to play.”
Kyari, however, admitted ownership of a farmland located
along the Abuja–Kaduna road, saying he had managed the property for about a
decade.
He also confirmed operating accounts with UBA, Access Bank,
and GTBank, adding that the £7,000 found in his domiciliary account had been
properly declared.
He told the court that his accounts were later frozen by the
prosecution.
Kyari further distanced himself from the operation at Akanu
Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, where two drug traffickers were arrested —
the incident that triggered his suspension.
He alleged that NDLEA officers at the airport were complicit
in the deal.
“I was not arrested because of the allegations. I
voluntarily submitted myself for investigation through my office,” he said.
Omotosho adjourned the matter until November 5 for
continuation of trial.
On October 28, the court dismissed a no-case submission
filed by Kyari and his two brothers, ruling that a prima facie case had been
established against them.
“The defendants are still presumed innocent until proven
guilty, and the prosecution still has the duty to prove the charge beyond
reasonable doubt,” the judge held.
The NDLEA, in the 23-count charge marked
FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, accused Kyari, Mohammed Kyari, and Ali Kyari of failing to
fully disclose their assets, disguising ownership of property, and converting
funds.
The agency said the offences violate section 35(3)(a) of the
NDLEA Act and section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
After the prosecution closed its case—calling 10 witnesses
and tendering 20 exhibits—the defendants opted for a no-case submission, which
was dismissed by the court.
Kyari and four other suspended police officers are also
facing a separate trial before Emeka Nwite over alleged involvement in a
cocaine deal.
Two drug traffickers arrested in the case, Chibunna Patrick
Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were convicted and sentenced to two years
in prison in 2022H.
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