The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of a 23-count charge bordering on alleged failure to declare assets.
The case had been instituted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency against Kyari and two of his brothers.
Delivering the judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution did not present sufficient and credible evidence to substantiate the allegations against the defendants.
The judge noted that the anti-narcotics agency failed to produce reliable documents connecting Kyari to the disputed properties, including those located in Fountain Estate in Kasana, properties along Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, and others in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Justice Omotosho explained that legal ownership of landed property can be proven through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession or possession by connection, but said none of these requirements were established by the prosecution.
He further held that Kyari’s claim that the Maiduguri properties belonged to his late father and were later inherited by him and his siblings was not successfully challenged in court.
The court also ruled that the allegation of conspiracy against Kyari’s brothers, accused of swearing false affidavits to conceal the source of the properties, was not proven.
Following the findings, the court discharged and acquitted Kyari and the other defendants on all 23 counts.
