NDLEA’s Asset-Declaration Case Against Abba Kyari Falters as Cross-Examination Ends in Disarray
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday suffered a significant setback in its asset-declaration case against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, after a tense and largely unproductive cross-examination session ended in confusion at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In a communique-style clarification during proceedings, the prosecution—led by counsel Sunday Joseph—struggled to draw contradictions from Kyari’s testimony, particularly on issues of inheritance and property ownership. The NDLEA alleges that Kyari failed to declare his assets, but its efforts to establish this claim again fell short.
At an earlier sitting, Joseph attempted to compel Kyari to admit that all properties left by his late father were solely his. Kyari pushed back firmly, explaining that the properties belonged to the extended family and would eventually be shared among his 29 siblings.
He insisted he had fully declared all his assets and bank accounts, telling the court that over 90 percent of the properties attributed to him by the NDLEA were not his. He said legitimate owners had already appeared before the court to present their documents, exposing what he described as NDLEA’s “fabricated” media claims.
Kyari also maintained that his bank statements—tendered before the court—show he has less than ₦4 million across all accounts, which have remained frozen for more than three years with no trace of illicit funds identified.
> “My late father left over 20 houses for his children in Maiduguri. About four were sold to cater for his medical treatment,” he said.
Attempts by the prosecution to veer into unrelated issues drew swift reprimands from Justice Omotosho, who warned Joseph against digressing into matters unrelated to the charge.
> “I won’t allow that. This case has nothing to do with cocaine. This is strictly about alleged non-declaration of assets,” the judge cautioned.
“If you waste your allotted time, I will end your case. Stick to what is before the court.”
Tension rose further when Joseph made what the court described as a “parable,” prompting a sterner warning from the visibly irritated judge.
> “Be careful. Do not come here and impugn this temple. Are you trying to teach the court its job? It appears you are not ready.”
The confusion deepened during Wednesday’s proceedings when the prosecution presented a police document and repeatedly directed Kyari to unspecified pages.
“Page 20?” Joseph asked.
Kyari replied that it contained details of drug suspects arrested and handed over to the NDLEA—matters unrelated to asset declaration.
Page 19, he added, contained similar content.
Justice Omotosho eventually paused the session, granting the prosecution more time to properly verify the document.
Kyari also noted that the document being relied upon was only an interim police report, adding that a final version exists and contradicts the earlier draft.
He further highlighted several false claims he said the NDLEA had pushed, including allegations that he owned the Borno State Government polo ground—public property that predates him. He reminded the court that the NDLEA had filed statements in Federal High Court, Maiduguri, which wrongly attributed confessions to him about properties belonging to innocent Nigerians, who have since sued the agency.
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Shortly after these clarifications, the NDLEA counsel unexpectedly announced that he had no further questions. Defence counsel Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) also confirmed he had no further cross-examination.
The matter has been adjourned for the filing and adoption of final written addresses, after which the court will fix a date for judgment.
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