Suspended police officer Abba Kyari has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he declared both his assets and those of his wife, countering claims by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that he concealed property.
Kyari, who is on trial for alleged non-disclosure and money laundering, repeated the claim during cross-examination before Justice James Omotosho, insisting that asset declarations submitted to authorities were complete.
He dismissed allegations that he secretly owned a polo ground in Borno State, accusing the NDLEA of misleading the court. “Everything I and my wife have, I have declared them,” Kyari said, adding that he inherited nothing from his late father’s estate despite its sale.
The NDLEA’s counsel, Sunday Joseph, challenged his testimony, saying the declarations were untrue. Kyari responded that prosecutors “went and lied” regarding ownership claims.
After the cross-examination, Kyari’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), informed the court that the defence would not conduct a re-examination nor present additional witnesses. Lawyers for the co-defendants, Mohammed and Ali Kyari, also declined to call witnesses, opting to rely on the prosecution’s case.
Justice Omotosho adjourned proceedings to 12 December for the adoption of final written submissions.
The NDLEA is prosecuting Kyari and his brothers on a 23-count charge that alleges failure to declare assets, disguising ownership of property and unlawful conversion of funds. The offences, according to the agency, violate the NDLEA Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. All three men have pleaded not guilty.
Kyari’s earlier no-case application argued that there was no legally admissible proof tying him to the property in question, citing the need for certified land documents. The court dismissed the submission, saying the prosecution had established enough evidence to warrant a defence.
