By Correspondent in Abuja
Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that his late father left more than 20 houses for his children in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Kyari, who is facing charges for allegedly failing to fully declare his assets as required by law, made the disclosure while being cross-examined by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Sunday Joseph, before Justice James Omotosho.
The former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) said some of the properties were sold to finance his father’s medical treatment before his death.
“About four of the properties were sold then,” Kyari told the court.
He explained that although the houses were part of his late father’s estate, they did not belong to him personally, adding that he could only declare his share of the inheritance when it was formally allocated.
“I could not include the 20 houses in my asset declaration form because they belong to my late father and not me.
If I get my percentage share, I will declare it, but until then, I cannot,” he said.
Kyari said the properties belonged jointly to all of his father’s children—about 30 in number—and that proceeds from the sale of some of the assets had been distributed among those in need.
He also told the court that he initially refused to fill out his asset declaration form when invited by the NDLEA until his lawyers were present.
“Yes, I said I would not make any statement until my lawyers were around,” he admitted, adding that one of the officers informed him it was a criminal offence to decline to fill the form.
When shown bank documents tendered as exhibits, Kyari confirmed his name appeared on them.
After a series of questions, the NDLEA’s counsel sought an adjournment to obtain additional documents needed to continue the cross-examination. Justice Omotosho adjourned the case until November 12 for continuation of the trial.
Earlier in the day, Kyari concluded his testimony while being led in evidence by his counsel, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN). He maintained that he declared all his assets, as well as his wife’s, in accordance with the law.
He insisted that some of the assets listed by the prosecution belonged to his late father, and that the funds in his bank accounts were official monies paid by the police and some state governors for operations conducted by his team.
Kyari explained that during his tenure as commander of the Anti-Robbery Squad and later as head of the IRT, his team conducted over 1,000 operations, for which funds were sometimes paid into his account for disbursement.
He said some transfers from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to his accounts were later moved to relatives who had loaned him money for urgent operations, since official funds from the police were often delayed by bureaucratic processes.
Justice Omotosho had earlier dismissed a no-case submission filed by Kyari and his two brothers, ruling that a prima facie case had been established against them by the NDLEA.
The NDLEA, in its 23-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022), accused Abba Kyari, Mohammed Kyari, and Ali Kyari of failing to make full disclosure of their assets, disguising ownership of properties, and converting proceeds of crime — offences punishable under the NDLEA Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The prosecution called 10 witnesses and tendered 20 exhibits to prove its case before resting, after which the defendants elected to open their defence.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
