Court Clears Abba Kyari, Brothers of Asset Non-declaration Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and his two younger brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, over allegations of failure to declare assets.

The court reached the decision after reviewing the evidence presented during the trial and hearing arguments from lawyers representing both sides.

Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt. Based on this finding, the judge discharged and acquitted Kyari and his brothers of all the charges brought against them.

The case was initiated by the NDLEA, which accused the former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team and his brothers of not fully declaring their assets.

The agency brought a 23-count charge against the three men, claiming they did not disclose several properties and financial assets.

According to the agency, investigations uncovered 14 properties allegedly linked to Kyari. These properties included shopping malls, residential estates, land, farmland, and a polo playground.

The agency claimed the properties were located in different areas within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The NDLEA also told the court that large sums of money were discovered in accounts linked to Kyari. The funds were said to include more than N207 million and 17,598 euros found in accounts held in Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Sterling Bank.

The anti-narcotics agency further accused the defendants of concealing ownership of properties and converting money connected to the assets.

The charges were filed under provisions of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011.

During the proceedings, lawyers for the NDLEA presented their arguments in support of the charges, while counsel representing Kyari and his brothers argued against the claims.

After reviewing the submissions, the court concluded that the evidence provided by the prosecution was not enough to secure a conviction.

Justice Omotosho also described the case against Kyari and his brothers as persecution while delivering the judgment. Following the ruling, the defendants were formally cleared of the charges brought against them.

The case had earlier gone through several stages of legal arguments after both the prosecution and defence adopted their final processes in court.

With the judgment delivered on Thursday, the matter has now been concluded at the Federal High Court.