The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and his two brothers in a 23-count charge filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, March 5, 2026, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution failed to establish its case against the defendants.
The charges bordered on alleged non-declaration of assets, including several landed properties, as well as claims of conspiracy and swearing to false affidavits to conceal the origin of the properties.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho described the prosecution’s evidence as “watery,” noting that no credible documents or material proof were presented to link Kyari to the disputed properties.
The properties referenced in the charge included those located in Fountain Estate, Kasa, listed under Ramatu Kyari; Linda Chuko Road, Asokoro; and in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The court stated that ownership of landed property can be proven through title documents, traditional history, acts of possession, or possession by connection. However, it found that the NDLEA failed to provide any of these to substantiate its claims.
Kyari had maintained in his defence that the properties in Borno State belonged to his late father and were inherited by him and his siblings.
Justice Omotosho also faulted the inclusion of Kyari’s brothers in the conspiracy charge, describing it as lacking merit and unsupported by evidence.
He added that the defendants had served the country and should not be subjected to persecution without proof.
The acquittal relates strictly to the asset declaration and associated financial allegations brought by the NDLEA. Separate legal proceedings involving Kyari, including the pending drug trafficking case, remain independent of this judgment.
Prime News
