Court Fixes February 2026 for Judgment in Abba Kyari’s Money Laundering, NDLEA Asset Forfeiture Case
Judgment Set for Feb 26, 2026 as Court Hears Final Arguments in NDLEA’s Asset Forfeiture Case Against Abba Kyari.
“The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 26, 2026, for judgment in the NDLEA’s asset forfeiture and money laundering case against suspended DCP Abba Kyari and his brothers”.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 26, 2026, for judgment in the case instituted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter for judgment on Friday after counsel to the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph, Kyari’s lead defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and counsel to Kyari’s brothers, Monjok Agom, adopted their final written addresses and presented oral arguments for and against the charges.
Kyari and his brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, are standing trial on a 23-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, filed by the NDLEA. The three defendants are listed as the first, second and third defendants, respectively.
The anti-drug agency accused the Kyari brothers of failing to make full disclosure of their assets, alleging that they engaged in the “disguising of ownership of properties and conversion of monies.”
According to the NDLEA, investigations uncovered 14 assets allegedly linked to Abba Kyari, including shopping malls, a residential estate, a polo playground, parcels of land and farmlands.
The agency alleged that Kyari failed to declare ownership of the properties, which are said to be located in various parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Maiduguri, Borno State.
The NDLEA further claimed that more than ₦207 million and €17,598 were discovered in Kyari’s bank accounts during the investigation.
It stated that the alleged offences are punishable under Section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act and Section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges during their arraignment.
During the trial, the NDLEA called 10 witnesses and tendered over 20 exhibits in support of its case. Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Kyari filed a no-case submission, arguing through his counsel that the prosecution failed to establish ownership of the properties allegedly linked to him.
However, in a ruling delivered on October 28, Justice Omotosho dismissed the no-case submission, holding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and that the defendants were required to open their defence.
Kyari opened his defence on November 4, maintaining that he had duly declared his assets and those of his wife in compliance with the law.
He denied ownership of several properties linked to him by the NDLEA, explaining that some of the assets belonged to his late father, who, according to him, had about 30 children.
The suspended police officer also denied owning the alleged polo playground in Borno State, stating that he was surprised that such a large expanse of land could be attributed to him.
Kyari closed his defence on November 26, after concluding his testimony under the lead examination of Ikpeazu and subsequent cross-examination by NDLEA counsel.
His brothers, Mohammed and Ali Kyari, through their lawyer, Monjok Agom, informed the court that they would not call any witnesses, opting instead to rest their case on that of the prosecution.
Meanwhile, Abba Kyari is also facing trial in a separate NDLEA case involving an alleged cocaine deal linked to some police officers. That trial is before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Both cases were instituted in 2022.
