Drug Case Against Abba Kyari On Course, NDLEA Clarifies

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has clarified that its substantive drug case against the suspended deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari, is on course and billed for continuation before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday, March 16, 2026.

The anti-drug agency stated this when it reacted to the discharge of Kyari by Justice James Omotosho on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged non-declaration of assets filed against him by the NDLEA.

When called to ask if the agency would appeal Justice Omotosho’s ruling, the NDLEA’s director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated that the prosecution team would need to obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement to know the details and thereafter be guided on its next line of action.

According to him, “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. That one is very much on course. The case determined by Justice Omotosho is a different case of money laundering and non-declaration of assets.

“On your question on whether the agency will appeal the ruling or not, the prosecution team has been directed to apply for the CTC of the judgement which details will help the management take a decision on what next to do.”

Earlier,  Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of a 23 count charge of alleged non declaration of Assets,  filed against him by the NDLEA.

Kyari was charged alongside his two brothers who were accused of swearing to a false affidavits to conceal the origin of some properties.

The court in its judgment held that the NDLEA failed to provide sufficient evidence in proving its case against the defendants, which is mostly non declaration of land properties.

Justice Omotosho noted that proving ownership of landed properties, can be done through traditional history, title, acts of possession and possession by connection.

The Judge pointed out that the prosecution did not provide any of these documents to show that the said properties located in fountain Estate Kasana,  which belong to Ramatu Kyari, is truly owned by Abba Kyari.

Also the court held that prosecution did not provide same material evidence linking Mr Kyari to properties in Linda Choko road Asokoro, and also Maiduguri Borno State.

Mr Kyari in his defense had said the properties in Borno belonged to his father which he left for him and his siblings.

The prosecution did not prove otherwise. Justice Omotosho added that the prosecution charged Mr Kyari’s brothers in bad faith for alleged conspiracy, which they failed to prove. In all the case of the NDLEA was watery.