The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 26, 2026, for judgment in the case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date on Friday after parties in the matter adopted their final written addresses and presented arguments for and against the 23 count charge preferred against Kyari and his two younger brothers, Mohammed and Ali.
The NDLEA is prosecuting Kyari, a former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, alongside his brothers over allegations of failure to fully disclose assets and alleged laundering of funds. The anti narcotics agency accused the defendants of disguising ownership of properties and converting large sums of money.
Counsel to the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph, Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and counsel to the two brothers, Monjok Agom, all addressed the court before the matter was adjourned for judgment.
The NDLEA told the court that investigations uncovered about 14 assets allegedly linked to Kyari, including shopping malls, residential estates, lands, farmland and a polo playground located in Abuja and Maiduguri. The agency also alleged that over N207 million and €17,598 were discovered in accounts linked to Kyari in Guarantee Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa and Sterling Bank.
Kyari and his brothers pleaded not guilty to all the charges. During trial, the NDLEA called 10 witnesses and tendered no fewer than 20 exhibits to support its case.
After the prosecution closed its case, Kyari made a no case submission, arguing that the NDLEA failed to establish that he owned the properties in question. However, Justice Omotosho dismissed the application on October 28, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and ordering the defendants to open their defence.
Kyari, who opened his defence on November 4, insisted that he declared his assets and those of his wife in line with the law. He denied ownership of some of the assets listed by the NDLEA, stating that several of the properties belonged to his late father, who he said had about 30 children.
He also denied owning a polo playground in Borno State, saying he was surprised that such a vast expanse of land was linked to him. Kyari closed his defence on November 26, 2025, after he was cross examined by the prosecution.
His two brothers, however, told the court that they would not call any witness. According to their lawyer, “We shall be resting our case on that of the prosecution’s case.”
The NDLEA said the alleged offences are punishable under relevant provisions of the NDLEA Act and the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.
The case is separate from the cocaine trafficking trial Kyari is facing alongside some police officers before another Federal High Court in Abuja. Both cases were instituted by the NDLEA in 2022.
