The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has clarified that the substantive drug case against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari remains ongoing despite his recent acquittal in a separate case involving alleged non-declaration of assets.
The agency stated that the drug-related charges against Kyari are still before Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with the matter scheduled to continue on March 16, 2026 in Abuja.
Naijaonpoint reports that the clarification follows Thursday’s judgment by Justice James Omotosho, who discharged and acquitted Kyari of 23 counts of alleged non-declaration of assets filed by the NDLEA.
Kyari was arraigned alongside his two brothers for allegedly swearing false affidavits to conceal the ownership of certain properties.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence linking Kyari to the properties cited in the charges.
The court noted that the prosecution did not present credible evidence proving that the property located at Fountain Estate, Kasana, allegedly belonging to Ramatu Kyari, was owned by the suspended police officer.
The judge also ruled that the prosecution failed to link Kyari to other properties said to be located on Linda Choko Road, Asokoro, Abuja, as well as in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Justice Omotosho explained that ownership of landed property could be established through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession by connection, adding that none of these forms of proof were presented by the prosecution.
NDLEA Reacts To Judgment
Reacting to the ruling in an interview with The PUNCH, the NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho is separate from the substantive drug case involving Kyari.
Babafemi explained that the agency’s legal team would first obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before deciding on its next step.
“First, I need to clarify that the ruling by Justice Omotosho is completely different from the main and substantive drug case, which continues before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, 16th March 2026,” he said.
“That one is very much on course. The case determined by Justice Omotosho today is a different case of money laundering and non-declaration of assets.”
He added that the NDLEA would study the judgment before deciding whether to appeal.
“Regarding whether the agency will appeal the ruling, the prosecution team has been directed to obtain a Certified True Copy of the judgment, the details of which will guide management in deciding the next course of action,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA had earlier accused Kyari and his brothers, Mohammed and Ali Kyari, of conspiring to conceal the ownership of several properties and swearing false affidavits regarding their origin.
According to the anti-narcotics agency, investigations allegedly traced about 14 assets to Kyari in Abuja and Maiduguri, including shopping malls, residential estates, farmlands, parcels of land and a polo playground.
The agency also claimed that it discovered about ₦207 million and €17,598 in bank accounts allegedly linked to the former police officer.
However, Kyari denied the allegations, telling the court that some of the properties attributed to him belonged to his late father and were inherited by him and his siblings, while insisting that he had properly declared his assets.