Suspended deputy commissioner of police Abba Kyari, on Tuesday, denied possession of a few of the property linked to him by the Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) within the ongoing trial bordering on alleged non-disclosure of property.
Mr Kyari, opening his defence earlier than trial choose James Omotosho of the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja, stated a few of the property belonged to his late father, who had about 30 youngsters.
The defendant, who took the stand as the primary defence witness, was led in proof by his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Mr Kyari, who expressed shock on the allegations, advised the court docket that the paperwork of the property are with the Ministry of Land in Borno State.
He additionally refuted the allegations that he owned the polo floor within the state, saying he was stunned that the big expanse of the polo floor could be attributed to him.
“Even Dangote who’s the richest man in Nigeria doesn’t personal such a property, how way more some like me.
“The polo floor has been in existence since after I was a baby. We used to go there to play,” he stated.
Mr Kyari, nonetheless, admitted possession of a farmland situated alongside Abuja-Kaduna Street, saying he had been on the farm within the final one decade.
He equally admitted that he operated accounts with United Financial institution for Africa (UBA), Entry Financial institution and Assure Belief Financial institution (GTB), and that the over £7, 000 (kilos) present in his domiciliary account was earlier declared in keeping with the regulation.
He stated his accounts had been frozen by the prosecution.
Mr Kyari, who advised the court docket that he was not a part of the group that went to arrest the 2 drug traffickers on the Akanu Ibiam, Worldwide Airport in Enugu States, alleged that the NDLEA officers on the airport had been indicted within the act.
He stated he was not arrested because of the allegations towards him however he submitted himself for investigation by means of his workplace.
Mr Kyari, who stated he was the top of the Police Intelligence Response Group (IRT) on the time, stated a number of high-profile criminals had been arrested by his group.
The choose adjourned the matter until Wednesday (5 November) for continuation of the trial.
Earlier on 28 October, the court docket dismissed the no-case submission filed by Mr Kyari and his two brothers within the trial on non-disclosure of property and cash laundering costs.
The court docket dominated that they’ve a case to reply and will enter their defence.
The NDLEA is prosecuting him alongside his brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari.
NDLEA arraigned the Kyari brothers in 2022 on 24 costs of non-disclosure of property, cash laundering and concealment of property.
The company filed the fees after accusing them of failing to make full disclosure of their property, disguising possession of properties, and changing monies traced to them.
The company stated the offences violated Part 35 (3)(a) of the NDLEA Act and Part 15 (3)(a) of the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
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After the defendants had been arraigned, the NDLEA known as 10 witnesses to show its case and tendered no less than 20 displays.
The defendants selected to file a no-case submission, urging the court docket to dismiss the fees towards them, on grounds together with that the NDLEA failed to supply proof displaying certainly that he was the proprietor of the stated property.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) stories that Mr Kyari, alongside different 4 suspended cops, is equally dealing with one other trial earlier than one other choose of the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja, Emeka Nwite, on alleged cocaine deal.
Two of the drug traffickers – Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne – who had been arrested by the IRT, pleaded responsible to the fees.
The 2 males had been convicted and subsequently sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment by Mr Nwite in 2022.
(NAN)
