Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that his late father left behind more than 20 houses for his children in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Kyari, who is facing charges for allegedly failing to fully disclose his assets as required by law, made the disclosure while being cross-examined by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Sunday Joseph, before Justice James Omotosho.
The former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) said some of the properties were sold to pay for his father’s medical treatment.
“About four of the properties were sold then,” he told the court.
Kyari, who holds a BSc in Geography and joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 1, 2000, said he was familiar with the rules guiding asset declaration.
When asked why the 20 houses were not listed in his asset declaration form, he explained that the properties did not belong to him.
“I cannot include the properties in my declaration because they belong to my father and not me,” he said. “If I get my share, I can declare it, but until then, it is not mine.”
He told the court that the houses were jointly owned by about 30 children of his late father, and that proceeds from the sale of some of the properties were shared among family members in need.
Kyari also said he initially refused to fill the NDLEA’s asset declaration form when invited, insisting his lawyers must be present. He admitted that an NDLEA officer informed him it was a criminal offence to refuse to fill the form.
Earlier in the day, Kyari concluded his testimony while being led in evidence by his counsel, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN). He maintained that he had declared all his assets and those of his wife in accordance with the law, insisting that some properties listed by the NDLEA belonged to his late father.
He also told the court that the funds in his bank accounts were payments made by the police and some state governments for operations carried out by his team.
“When I was head of the Anti-Robbery Squad and later IRT, we handled over 1,000 operations. The money paid into my account was for disbursement,” he explained.
Responding to questions about funds transferred from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to his relatives, Kyari said the money was used to repay loans he had taken from them to fund operations, due to bureaucratic delays in police disbursements.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until November 12 for continuation of cross-examination.
The NDLEA, in a 23-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, accused Kyari and his brothers, Mohammed and Ali, of failing to declare assets, disguising ownership of properties, and laundering funds—offences punishable under the NDLEA Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
Justice Omotosho had earlier, on October 28, dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission, ruling that a prima facie case had been established, thereby requiring them to open their defence.
He clarified that the ruling did not imply guilt, adding that the defendants remain presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and that the prosecution still bears the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
