Kyari & Brothers Face 23 Charges over ₦207m, €17,598, and 14 Assets.
Abuja: The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 26, 2026, for judgment in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) asset disclosure case against DCP Abba Kyari and his two younger brothers, Mohammed and Ali.
The trio is accused of concealing assets, money laundering, and owning properties worth millions of naira. Prosecutors say the case underscores the agency’s resolve to tackle financial crimes linked to narcotics enforcement.
Kyari, the former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has denied the allegations, insisting he declared his assets and those of his wife in line with the law.
He argued that some of the properties belonged to his late father, who had about 30 children, while others were wrongly attributed to him, including a polo playground in Borno.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the judgment date after counsel for the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph, Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and his brothers’ counsel, Monjok Agom, adopted their processes and presented arguments.
The NDLEA alleged that the defendants failed to disclose ownership of shopping malls, residential estates, lands, and farmland in Abuja and Maiduguri. It also claimed to have uncovered funds in multiple bank accounts, including Guarantee Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Sterling Bank.
The offences, according to the agency, are punishable under Section 35 (3)(a) of the NDLEA Act and Section 15 (3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. All three defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution called 10 witnesses and tendered 20 exhibits before closing its case. Kyari entered a no‑case submission, arguing that the agency failed to prove ownership of the assets. Justice Omotosho dismissed the application, ruling that a prima facie case had been established.
Kyari opened his defence on November 4 and closed it on November 26 after cross‑examination. His brothers opted not to call witnesses, with their lawyer stating they would rely on the prosecution’s case.
This matter is separate from the cocaine trafficking trial Kyari is facing alongside other police officers before Justice Emeka Nwite of another Federal High Court in Abuja. Both cases were instituted by the NDLEA in 2022.
