Abba Kyari Tells Court His Late Father Left Over 20 Houses in Maiduguri for 30 Children

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that his late father left more than 20 houses for his children in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Kyari made the disclosure while being cross-examined by Sunday Joseph, counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), before Justice James Omotosho.

The embattled officer, who once headed the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), is standing trial on charges related to failure to declare assets and alleged money laundering.

Kyari explained that some of the properties were sold to fund his father’s medical treatment before his death.

“About four of the properties were sold then,” he told the court.

He clarified that he did not include the 20 houses in his asset declaration form because they were family properties, not his personal assets.

“I cannot put my interest about the property in the form because the 20 houses belong to my father and not me. If I get my percentage of share, I can put it, but until when I get my own percentage,” he said.

Kyari added that the properties were jointly owned by his father’s about 30 children, and that proceeds from some sales had been shared among siblings who were in need.

The suspended officer also said he initially refused to fill the NDLEA’s asset declaration form because he wanted his lawyers present.

“Yes, I said I will not make any statement until my lawyers are around,” he told the court, adding that one of the NDLEA officers informed him it was a criminal offence to refuse.

During the cross-examination, several bank documents were tendered as exhibits, with Kyari confirming that his name appeared on them.

The NDLEA counsel then requested an adjournment to obtain additional documents for further questioning. Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to November 12 for continuation of cross-examination.

Earlier, while being led in evidence by his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Kyari maintained that he fully declared his assets and his wife’s, insisting that some properties listed by the NDLEA belonged to his late father.

He explained that the large sums in his bank accounts came from official police operations and payments from state governors, noting that he had conducted over 1,000 operations as head of the Anti-Robbery Squad and IRT.

On allegations that he transferred funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to relatives, Kyari said the money was used to repay loans taken from them for urgent operational expenses.

The court had earlier rejected the no-case submission filed by Kyari and his brothers, ruling that a prima facie case had been established by the NDLEA.

Justice Omotosho emphasized that the ruling did not mean the defendants were guilty, only that they must be given an opportunity to defend themselves.

The NDLEA, in its 23-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022), accused Abba Kyari, Mohammed Kyari, and Ali Kyari of failing to declare assets, disguising ownership of properties, and money laundering — offences punishable under the NDLEA Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

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