A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted Abba Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, on a 23-count charge of alleged non-declaration of assets filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In his judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the NDLEA failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that the properties cited in the charge belonged to Kyari.
Kyari was charged alongside his two brothers, who were accused of swearing to false affidavits to conceal the origin of certain properties allegedly linked to the police officer. Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case against Kyari and the other defendants.
The judge explained that ownership of landed property can be proven through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession connected to ownership.
He stated that none of these forms of proof were presented by the prosecution to demonstrate that a property located in Fountain Estate, Kasana, was owned by the suspended police officer.
Justice Omotosho further held that the prosecution failed to produce evidence linking Kyari to other properties referenced in the charge, including those located on Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, and in Maiduguri, Borno State.
