Court fixes February 26 for judgment in Abba Kyari’s asset declaration case

The suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. Credit: Google

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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 against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after counsel for the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph, Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and counsel for his brothers, Monjok Agom, adopted their written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the charge.

Kyari and his brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, are facing a 23-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, filed by the NDLEA, in which they are listed as the first to third defendants respectively.

The agency accused the Kyari brothers of failing to make full disclosure of their assets adding that they allegedly engaged in the “disguising of ownership of properties and conversion of monies.”

According to the NDLEA, it uncovered 14 assets belonging to Abba Kyari, including shopping malls, a residential estate, a polo playground, land and farmland.

Kyari was alleged to have failed to declare ownership of the properties located in various parts of the Federal Capital Territory and in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The NDLEA further alleged that over ₦207 million and €17,598 were discovered in Kyari’s bank accounts.

The agency said the alleged offences 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, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges during their arraignment.

During the trial, the NDLEA called 10 witnesses and tendered at least 20 exhibits to prove its case.

Kyari, after the prosecution closed its case, filed a no-case submission.

The former IRT commander argued through his counsel that the prosecution had failed to provide evidence that he owned the properties listed.

However, on October 28, Justice Omotosho dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendants, necessitating that Kyari open his defence to address the issues raised.

Kyari opened his defence on November 4, and maintained that he had 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 and explained that some of the properties belonged to his late father, who had about 30 children.

He also denied owning the polo playground in Borno, stating that he was surprised that such a large expanse of land would be linked to him.

The former IRT boss closed his defence on November 26, after completing his testimony under the lead examination of Ikpeazu and subsequent cross-examination by the NDLEA.

Kyari’s brothers, Mohammed and Ali, through their lawyer, Monjok Agom, informed the court that they would not be calling any witnesses, adding that they would rest their case on that of the prosecution.

Abba Kyari is also facing trial in another case filed against him by the NDLEA in connection with an alleged cocaine deal involving some police officers.

The trial is before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Both cases were instituted in 2022.

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