The Federal High Court on Thursday cleared suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of a 23-count charge relating to alleged non-declaration of assets.
The case had been filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency against Kyari and two of his brothers.
In his ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient and credible evidence to back the allegations brought against the defendants.
According to the judge, the anti-narcotics agency was unable to present dependable documentation linking Kyari to the disputed properties, which include houses in Fountain Estate in Kasana, buildings along Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, as well as other properties 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.
