By Correspondent in Abuja.
(C) Google.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 26, 2026, for judgment in the asset declaration case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter on Friday after the counsel to the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph; Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN; and that of Kyari’s brothers, Monjok Agom, adopted their final written addresses and presented arguments for and against the charge.
Our Correspondent reports that the NDLEA is prosecuting Kyari, a former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), alongside his two younger brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, on allegations bordering on non-disclosure of assets.
In the 23-count charge, the anti-narcotics agency accused the defendants of failing to make full disclosure of their assets, as required by law. The charge lists Abba Kyari, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari as first to third defendants respectively.
The NDLEA alleged that investigations uncovered 14 assets, including shopping malls, a residential estate, a polo playground, lands and farmland, allegedly linked to Kyari.
It further claimed that the properties were located in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Maiduguri, Borno State, and were not disclosed by the defendants.
The agency also alleged that over ₦207 million and €17,598 were discovered in Kyari’s various bank accounts with Guarantee Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa and Sterling Bank.
According to the NDLEA, the defendants engaged in the disguising of ownership of properties and conversion of funds, offences it said are punishable under Section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act and Section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
During trial, the NDLEA called 10 witnesses and tendered no fewer than 20 exhibits in support of its case.
After the prosecution closed its case, Kyari made a no-case submission, arguing, through his lawyer, that the prosecution failed to establish that he owned the properties listed in the charge.
However, on October 28, Justice Omotosho dismissed the no-case submission, holding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendants and directing them to open their defence.
Kyari opened his defence on November 4, insisting that he duly declared his assets and those of his wife in line with the law.
He denied ownership of several assets linked to him by the NDLEA, explaining that some of the properties belonged to his late father, who he said had about 30 children.
He also denied owning the polo playground in Borno State, expressing surprise that such a vast expanse of land was attributed to him.
Kyari closed his defence on November 26 after completing his testimony and undergoing cross-examination by the NDLEA’s counsel.
His two brothers, however, informed the court through their lawyer that they would not be calling any witnesses, opting instead to rest their case on that of the prosecution.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to February 26, 2026, for judgment.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
