Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Abba Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, of a 23-count charge alleging non-declaration of assets, brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Kyari faced the charges alongside his two brothers, accused of swearing false affidavits in an attempt to conceal the origin of certain properties.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho found that the NDLEA failed to provide sufficient evidence linking Kyari to the properties in question. The judge explained that proof of landed property ownership requires documentation, possession, or historical evidence—all of which were absent for properties in Fountain Estate, Karsana; Linda Choko Road, Asokoro; and Maiduguri, Borno State.
Kyari had maintained that the Borno State properties belonged to his late father, a claim the court found credible. The judge also criticized the prosecution for acting in bad faith regarding the charges against Kyari’s brothers, describing the case as weak and unsubstantiated.
Justice Omotosho noted that Kyari had served the country well and should not be subjected to persecution.
