A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of a 23-count charge relating to alleged non-declaration of assets filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish its case against Kyari and the other defendants.
Kyari was arraigned alongside his two brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, who were accused of swearing false affidavits to conceal the origin of property allegedly linked to the police officer.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that the NDLEA did not present sufficient evidence to prove ownership of the properties cited in the charges.
The judge explained that ownership can be established through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession connected to ownership – none of which the prosecution provided.
The judge noted that the property at Fountain Estate, Kasana, reportedly belonging to Ramatu Kyari, was not linked to Abba Kyari. He also ruled that evidence was lacking to connect Kyari to properties at Linda Choko Road, Asokoro in Abuja and in Maiduguri, Borno State.
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Kyari had told the court that the Borno property was inherited from his late father.
Justice Omotosho said the prosecution failed to disprove this claim.
He also dismissed the conspiracy charges against Kyari’s brothers, describing the case as weak and lacking credible proof. “Kyari has served the country and should not be subjected to persecution without convincing evidence,” the judge added.
Meanwhile, Kyari and four other suspended police officers face a separate trial before Justice Emeka Nwite over alleged involvement in a cocaine trafficking case. Two civilian suspects in that matter, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in 2022.
Legal Troubles of Abba Kyari: Background
Suspended DCP Kyari, once celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most decorated police officers, is facing several high-profile legal challenges in Nigeria and abroad, including allegations of fraud and drug trafficking.
US Indictment in Hushpuppi Fraud Case
In July 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States indicted Kyari over his alleged role in a $1.1 million fraud scheme involving Instagram celebrity Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
Kyari is alleged to have arrested and detained co-conspirator Chibuzo Vincent at Hushpuppi’s request to prevent him from alerting their Qatari victim about the scam.
A US court issued a warrant for Kyari’s arrest. Nigeria’s Attorney-General initially filed for his extradition, but in 2022 a Federal High Court in Abuja declined, citing his ongoing criminal trial in Nigeria.
Cocaine Trafficking Case in Nigeria
In February 2022, the NDLEA declared Kyari wanted over his alleged involvement in a 25-kilogram cocaine deal. Investigators say he was part of a drug trafficking network operating along the Brazil–Ethiopia–Nigeria route and attempted to bribe an undercover officer with $61,400 to release part of a seized cocaine consignment.
Kyari and four other police officers pleaded not guilty. Two civilian co-defendants — Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne — were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in 2022. Kyari’s trial is ongoing.
Asset Declaration Case and Acquittal
The NDLEA also filed a 24-count charge against Kyari and his brothers for allegedly failing to declare several assets, including properties in Abuja and Maiduguri.
On March 5, 2026, Justice Omotosho discharged and acquitted Kyari and his brothers, ruling that the prosecution failed to link him to the properties.
Current Status
As of March 2026, Kyari remains suspended from the Nigeria Police Force. He was granted bail in May 2024 on humanitarian grounds to attend his mother’s burial and remains out of custody while his drug trafficking trial continues.
Although cleared of asset declaration charges, Kyari’s cocaine trafficking trial continues, and the US extradition warrant over the Hushpuppi fraud remains in effect.
Kyari, 51, once hailed as a “super cop,” was awarded a Presidential Medal of Courage by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 for rescuing three kidnapped schoolgirls in Lagos. He also received top gallantry awards from the Lagos State Government between 2011 and 2013 and was known for his connections with politicians and celebrities.
He was suspended in July 2021 following the US indictment over his alleged facilitation of payments to Nigerian police personnel from Hushpuppi, who later pleaded guilty to money laundering in the US after extradition from Dubai.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
