By Azeez Sulaiman
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and his two brothers of charges related to the alleged non-declaration of assets.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, the court ruled that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) failed to provide credible or material evidence to substantiate its 23-count charge.
The agency had accused the defendants of concealing the ownership of multiple properties across Abuja and Maiduguri, but the court found the prosecution’s arguments insufficient to establish a legal link between Kyari and the disputed assets.
During the proceedings, the court noted that the NDLEA failed to produce essential title documents or proof of possession required by Nigerian law to establish ownership of landed property.
Justice Omotosho characterized the prosecution’s evidence as watery, noting that Kyari’s defense, that several of the properties were part of a family inheritance from his late father remained uncontroverted by the agency.
The judge also dismissed the conspiracy charges against Kyari’s brothers, stating that their inclusion in the suit lacked any evidentiary basis.
While this specific acquittal resolves the asset declaration dispute, the former head of the Intelligence Response Team continues to navigate other unrelated legal challenges.
