News Investigators/ Suspended DCP Abba Kyari, on Wednesday, restated that he had declared his wife’s assets and his assets in line with the provisions of the law.
Kyari, who is standing trial on allegations bordering on non-disclosure of his assets, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He reiterated his position during the continuation of his cross-examination by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sunday Joseph.
“I put it to you that everything you said about the properties was a untrue,” the NDLEA lawyer said.
Responding, Kyari said: “I have declared all my assets, and I have declared the assets of my wife.
“They went and lie at the Federal High Court in Maiduguri that I declared the Polo Ground (in Borno) as my asset.
“Everything I and my wife have, I have declared them,” he said.
He told the court that he did not get any share from his father’s property that were sold and distributed to his siblings.
“I did not get anything from my father’s properties. I did not get, even ‘shishi’ from the properties,” he added.
After the cross examination, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, who appeared for Kyari, said their was no re-examination.
“That is the case for the 1st defendant and we are very grateful for my lord’s indulgence,” Ikpeazu said.
Also speaking, Monjok Agom, who represented the 2nd and 3rd defendants, said they would not be calling any witness.
According to the lawyer, we shall be resting our case on that of the prosecution’s case.
Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 12 for adoption of final written addresses of the parties.
NAN reports that the former head of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), had, on Nov. 4, denied ownership of some of the assets linked to him by the NDLEA.
Kyari, who opened his defence before Justice Omotosho after his no-case submission was dismissed, said some of the property listed by the prosecution belonged to his late father, who had about 30 children.
He had stated this while being led in evidence as 1st defence witness (DW-1) by his lawyer, Ikpeazu.
He also refuted the allegations that he owned the polo ground in Borno, saying he was surprised that the large expanse of the polo ground would be linked to him.
The NDLEA, in the 23-count charge, named Abba Kyari, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
The anti-narcotics agency alleged that Abba and his two younger brothers; Mohammed and Ali, failed to make full disclosure of their assets.
The agency, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, also accused them of “disguising of ownership of properties and conversion of monies.”
The NDLEA said the offences are punishable under Section 35 (3) (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, and Section 15 (3) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The trio, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
And after the defendants were arraigned, the NDLEA called 10 witnesses to prove their case and tendered at least 20 exhibits.
The defendants then elected to make a no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case.
Kyari, in his written address by his lawyer, Dr Obinna Onyia, argued that the NDLEA had failed to provide evidence showing indeed that he was the owner of the said property.
Citing Section 128 of the Evidence Act, Kyari submitted that “transactions over state lands can only be proven by production of certified true copies of the title documents and no other form of evidence in admissible,” among other arguments.
However, the no-case submission was dismissed by the judge on the ground that the prosecution had been able to establish a prima facie case against the defendants, hence, the need to open their defence to clarify some of the issues.
NAN