Drama In Court As NDLEA Stumbles In Asset Declaration Case Against Abba Kyari as Cross-Examination Ends In Confusion

Drama In Court As NDLEA Stumbles In Asset Declaration Case Against Abba Kyari as Cross-Examination Ends In Confusion

The NDLEA on Wednesday 26/11/2025 suffered a major setback in its asset-declaration case against Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari at the Federal High Court, Abuja, after the cross-examination of the first respondent ended with little progress and several moments of courtroom tension.

The case, instituted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), alleges that Kyari failed to declare his assets. However, during cross-examination, the prosecution — led by counsel Sunday Joseph —unsuccessfully struggled to establish inconsistencies in Kyari’s statements, especially regarding inheritance and property ownership.

At the previous sitting, Joseph attempted to compel Kyari to admit that all properties left by his late father were exclusively his. Kyari firmly corrected the claim, explaining that the properties belonged to the entire family and would be shared among his 29 siblings whenever the family decided to do so.

Kyari also reiterated to the court that he declared all his assets and bank accounts, insisting that over 90% of the properties the NDLEA claimed belonged to him were completely false.

He stated that the legitimate owners of those properties had already come forward, tendered their documents in court, and exposed NDLEA’s media-trial narratives as fabricated.

He further informed the court that all his bank account statements are before the court, showing that he has less than ₦4 million combined across all his accounts — accounts which NDLEA has blocked for more than three years. Kyari emphasized that not a single kobo in any of his accounts has ever been linked to any criminal activity despite NDLEA’s public allegations.

> “My late father left over 20 houses for his children in Maiduguri. About four were sold to cater for his medical treatment,” Kyari told the court.

Attempts by the prosecution to shift their questioning toward unrelated matters — were swiftly rejected by Justice Omotosho, who cautioned the NDLEA counsel against straying into irrelevant territory.

> “I won’t allow that. This case has nothing to do with cocaine. This is strictly about alleged non-declaration of assets. You cannot come here and ask irrelevant questions,” the judge warned.
“If you waste your allotted time, I will end your case. Stick to what is before the court.”

Tension rose again when Joseph made what the court described as a “parable,” prompting an even sterner warning from Justice Omotosho.

> “Be careful. Do not come here and impugn this holy temple. What do you mean by that? Are you trying to teach the court its job? It appears you are not ready,” the visibly irritated judge stated.

During Wednesday’s resumed hearing, the prosecution presented a police document and repeatedly asked Kyari to refer to specific pages, causing confusion in court.

“Page 20?” Joseph asked.
Kyari responded, “Page 20 contains details of drug suspects arrested by the Police and the transfer of suspects and exhibits to NDLEA.”
On page 19, Kyari again clarified that it contained similar arrests of the drug suspects by the Police IRT and handover NDLEA — none related to the asset-declaration charge.

Justice Omotosho later allowed the prosecution more time to verify the document.

Kyari then pointed out that the document being relied upon was merely an interim police report, stressing that a final and superior police report is available and contradicts the three-year-old interim version.

Kyari also detailed several false claims the NDLEA had made against him, including publicly alleging that he owned the Borno State Government polo ground — a property belonging to the state government long before he was born.

He reminded the court that NDLEA also filed false statements in the Federal High Court, Maiduguri, claiming he confessed to owning properties belonging to innocent Nigerians.

Those real property owners, armed with their documents, have since filed cases against NDLEA.

After these exchanges, the NDLEA counsel abruptly announced that he had no further questions, surprising both the court and observers. Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), counsel for the defense, also confirmed he had no additional cross-examination.

The matter has been adjourned for the filing and adoption of final written addresses, after which judgment will be delivered.