The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday set February 26, 2026, for judgment in the case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and former Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) head Abba Kyari.
The date was fixed by Justice James Omotosho after counsel for the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph, Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and counsel for his brothers, Monjok Agom, adopted their written addresses and presented arguments for and against the 23-count charge.
Kyari and his brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, are listed as the first to third defendants in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022. The NDLEA accused the Kyari brothers of failing to fully declare their assets and allegedly disguising ownership of properties and converting funds.
The agency said it uncovered 14 assets belonging to Abba Kyari, including shopping malls, a residential estate, a polo playground, land, and farmland, located across the Federal Capital Territory and Maiduguri, Borno State. Investigators also reported over ₦207 million and €17,598 in Kyari’s bank accounts.
The alleged offences 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 during arraignment.
During the trial, the NDLEA called 10 witnesses and tendered at least 20 exhibits. After the prosecution closed its case, Kyari filed a no-case submission, arguing that the agency had failed to prove ownership of the listed properties. On October 28, Justice Omotosho dismissed the submission, ruling that a prima facie case had been established, requiring Kyari to open his defence.
Kyari began his defence on November 4, maintaining that he had duly declared his assets and those of his wife, and denying ownership of several properties linked to him by the NDLEA. He explained that some assets belonged to his late father, who had around 30 children, and denied owning the polo playground in Borno.
He concluded his testimony on November 26 after lead examination by Ikpeazu and cross-examination by the NDLEA. His brothers, Mohammed and Ali, informed the court that they would rest their case on the prosecution’s evidence and would not call additional witnesses.
Abba Kyari is also facing another trial brought by the NDLEA in connection with an alleged cocaine deal involving police officers, before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Both cases were instituted in 2022.
