A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of a 23-count charge bordering on alleged non-declaration of assets.
The case was brought against Kyari by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which accused the senior police officer and two of his brothers of failing to properly declare assets and allegedly filing false affidavits to conceal the ownership of certain properties.
Delivering the judgment, James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to support the allegations against the defendants.
According to the judge, the NDLEA did not provide credible documents linking Kyari to properties located at Fountain Estate in Kasana, reportedly owned by Ramatu Kyari, or to other properties on Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, and in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Justice Omotosho explained that ownership of landed property can be proven through various means, including historical claims, title documents, acts of possession, or possession through connection. However, the prosecution did not establish any of these in court.
The court also accepted Kyari’s explanation that the Maiduguri properties belonged to his late father and were inherited by him and his siblings. The judge noted that the prosecution failed to challenge or disprove this claim.
In addition, the court found that the conspiracy charge brought against Kyari’s brothers had not been substantiated.
Following these findings, the court discharged and acquitted Kyari and the other defendants on all 23 counts.
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