The Federal Government has uncovered a total of 14 undisclosed assets linked to suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and former commander of the Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari.
This is as the government filed a fresh 24-count charges against Kyari at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In the lawsuit with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/22 and filed by the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, J. Sunday, dated August 30, 2022, the Attorney-General of the Federation stated that the suspended DCP allegedly disguised his ownership of some of the properties.
Kyari was alleged to have failed to disclose his ownership of the properties in different locations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Maiduguri, Borno State.
Over N207m and Є17,598 were also discovered in his various accounts in GTB, UBA and Sterling Bank.
The 14 assets included shopping malls, residential estate, polo playground, lands and farmland.
An affidavit in support of the charge deposed to by a litigation officer with the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Stephen Kashawa, explained that Kyari, who is facing trial for dealing in cocaine, was subjected to general and financial investigation when he was transferred by the police to the NDLEA headquarters on February 14, 2022 for investigation.
He added that the financial investigation which extended to his properties led to the filing of charges for non-disclosure and conversion of large sums of money.
In the emerging lawsuit, the Federal Government alleged that Kyari intentionally failed to make full disclosure of one of his asset which is located at plot no 1927 Blue Fountain Estate, Karsana, Abuja. The government argued that Kyari committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Also, the embattled DCP was alleged to have failed to declare his ownership of an estate at Linda Chaulker Road, Asokoro Extension; plot no. 5 titled BO/4546; plot no. 9 titled BO/1037; plot no. 10 titled CER/4319 and plot no 33 titled BO/4319, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Count 11 read, ‘’That you, DCP Abba Kyari, male, adult and you Mohammed Kyari, male, adult, on or about February 14, 2022, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court in order to disguise the true ownership of the property situate at plot no. 33, Bama Road, GRA Extension, Maiduguri, Borno State, covered by certificate no. BO/4319 issued by Borno State Government by deposing to a false affidavit at the Federal High Court in suit no. FHC/NG/Cs/9/2022 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, (as amended).’’
