Fresh revelations emerged in the ongoing trial of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, as a prosecution witness disclosed details of undisclosed financial transactions allegedly linked to him. The case, which resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, centers on allegations of asset concealment.
Ahmed Yero, a Chief Investigator with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), testified that investigations into Kyari’s financial records revealed he operated 10 active bank accounts, despite officially declaring only three. The probe, conducted using his Bank Verification Number (BVN), uncovered multiple accounts, including domiciliary accounts handling different currencies.
“One of these accounts is his salary account, from which he received salaries and other allowances as a police officer,” Yero informed the court.
Further examination of Kyari’s United Bank for Africa (UBA) salary account over a span of 16 years reportedly showed financial inflows that exceeded his official earnings. The witness also highlighted that funds classified as “operational funds” were transferred from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) into Kyari’s account, with significant sums subsequently distributed to family members and associates.
“In our analysis, we identified over N200 million beyond what he was entitled to as a police officer,” Yero stated.
Kyari refused to submit a written statement to NDLEA investigators, asserting that he would present his defense in court instead.
During the proceedings, the court accepted Kyari’s bank statements and BVN analysis as evidence, despite objections from his legal counsel, led by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN). His defense team opted to challenge the admissibility of the documents at a later stage of the trial.
Under cross-examination, Yero acknowledged Kyari’s prominence as a high-ranking officer known for his involvement in major operations across the country. However, he clarified that investigators did not assess the number of operations Kyari had conducted or the expenditures involved. He also revealed that while Kyari declared some properties in Maiduguri, Borno State, he failed to disclose all his assets, attributing some to his late father and his wife.
Although Yero confirmed that there are no legal restrictions on individuals owning multiple bank accounts, the prosecution insists that Kyari’s financial dealings raise serious concerns about transparency.
Presiding over the case, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the trial to March 24, with the NDLEA expected to present two additional witnesses.
Earlier in the hearing, David Ajoma, a Compliance Officer from Sterling Bank, submitted three sets of documents, including a statement linked to one of Kyari’s accounts.
Kyari is standing trial alongside four officers from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), namely ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, and Inspector John Nuhu. The prosecution has accused them of playing various roles in the alleged misconduct, particularly concerning the tampering of seized cocaine and financial irregularities. Despite the charges leveled against them, all five defendants have maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty to the allegations. They remain in custody as the legal proceedings continue, with the court set to hear further testimonies in the coming sessions.
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Kyari, along with his brothers Mohammed and Ali Kyari, is facing a 10-count charge related to asset concealment. In addition, he is also on trial for an eight-count charge alleging that his Intelligence Response Team (IRT) tampered with confiscated cocaine at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
