The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday cleared suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari of a 23-count charge concerning alleged failure to declare assets brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
While delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the anti-drug agency did not present enough evidence to substantiate the claims against Kyari and his two brothers, who had also been accused of submitting false affidavits to hide the source of certain assets.
The judge said prosecutors failed to produce reliable documents connecting Kyari to properties at Fountain Estate in Kasana, reportedly owned by Ramatu Kyari, or to other properties on Linda Choko Road in Asokoro?and in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He explained that property ownership can be proven through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession by connection, but none of these were provided by the prosecution.
Justice Omotosho further stated that Kyari’s claim that the Maiduguri properties belonged to his late father and were inherited by him and his siblings was not successfully challenged by the prosecution. He also found that the allegation of conspiracy against Kyari’s brothers was not proven.
As a result, the court cleared all the defendants of every charge.
More details later…