The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday fixed February 26, 2026, for judgment in the case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and his two younger brothers.
The NDLEA is prosecuting Kyari, the former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), along with Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, over allegations of non-disclosure of assets. The agency accused the defendants of failing to declare properties and funds under their ownership, including shopping malls, residential estates, a polo playground, land, and farmland located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Maiduguri, Borno State.
The anti-narcotics agency also claimed to have uncovered over N207 million and €17,598 in Kyari’s accounts with Guarantee Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Sterling Bank. The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, includes allegations of “disguising ownership of properties and conversion of monies,” which the NDLEA said are punishable under Section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act and Section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the 23-count charge.
During proceedings, the prosecution, led by Sunday Joseph, called 10 witnesses and tendered at least 20 exhibits to substantiate its claims. Kyari, through his lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, initially filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove ownership of the alleged properties.
However, on October 28, 2025, Justice James Omotosho dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that a prima facie case had been established and that the defence needed to clarify issues surrounding the assets.
Kyari opened his defence on November 4, maintaining that he had properly declared his assets and those of his wife in accordance with the law. He denied ownership of several properties cited by the NDLEA, explaining that some belonged to his late father, who had over 30 children, and rejecting claims that he owned the polo playground in Borno.
Kyari concluded his evidence on November 26, after being cross-examined by the NDLEA’s counsel. His brothers, Mohammed and Ali, opted not to call any witnesses, resting their defence on the prosecution’s case, through their lawyer Monjok Agom.
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