By James Orji
The federal government has filed a 24-count charge against disgraced Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. Top among the charges against the embattled former Commander of the IRT is that he acquired properties beyond his income as a police officer in some parts of the country, including Abuja and Borno state where he hailed from.
Kyari was arrested in February 14 this year after the NDLEA busted a drug deal involving him in a sting operation.
The highly decorated policeman was arrested alongside five other suspects; DCP Abba Kyari; ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu.
They are now being put on trial.
In the fresh 24-count charges filed against Kyari 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.
The case filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/22 had as co-defendants, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, who are believed to be the beleaguered policeman’s siblings.
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).’’
According to the charge sheet, the disgraced police officer acquired choice properties in Abuja and Maiduguri which he did not declare as a public servant as required by the law.
His action, the Attorney General of the Federation said contravened and punishable under section 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The properties include 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.
They also include a shopping mall titled, NE/1229 and a polo playground with plot no. 270, both located in Maiduguri, a farmland along Abuja-Kaduna road and a plaza under construction in Guzape, Abuja.
The DCP was also accused of converting N28.4 million in his GTB account number 0121075250; N65.2m in his GTB account number 0138360064; N95 million in UBA account number 1002250112 and N16.9 million in Sterling Bank account number 0072451994.
Also Kyari was accused of failing to declare in the NDLEA assets declaration form the sum of Є17,598 in two GTB accounts, being proceeds of unlawful activities; N2.9 million in UBA; N366, 258.77 and N88.000 in Sterling Bank.
On his part ACP Ubua with charge number FHC/ABJ/407/22, was accused of not disclosing a N100 million life insurance policy with First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Limited, including several millions stashed in different bank accounts.
Ubua was also said to have converted N118.6 million using First bank account 3018154763 and $30,516.36 using Polaris Bank account 2630046721.
