FG finds assets tied to Former IRT Chief, Abba Kyari, including other commercial centers
After discovering 14 assets connected to the former Intelligence Response Team (IRT) commander’s 14 assets, the Federal Government charged Abba Kyari with a new 24-count accusation.
The assets include shopping centers, houses, a polo field, pastures, and farmland.
The assets were discovered in various areas of Abuja and Maiduguri, Borno State, according to the PUNCH Newspaper.
The IRT was led by Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police who had been placed on suspension.
It was alleged that he had concealed his ownership of the properties.
The Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, J. Sunday, filed the 24-count complaint against Kyari before the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 30, 2022.
The suspended police officer allegedly misrepresented his ownership of some of the properties, according to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Mohammed and Ali Kyari, two co-defendants on the FHC/ABJ/CR/408/22 case, are thought to be related to Abba Kyari.
Additionally, Sunday Ubua, Kyari’s former deputy, was charged with a separate 24-count offense and is currently on suspension.
When Kyari was brought by the police to the NDLEA headquarters on February 14, 2022, for investigation, it was revealed in an affidavit supporting the accusation that he was subject to a general and financial investigation. Kyari is currently being tried for cocaine distribution.
Charges for non-disclosure and conversion of significant amounts of money were filed as a result of the financial inquiry, which also covered his properties.
According to the Federal Government, Kyari intentionally violated Section 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, by failing to disclose all of his assets at plot number 1927 Blue Fountain Estate, Karsana, Abuja.
The prosecutor further claimed that the fired policeman failed to disclose his ownership of a property 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, designated BO/4319, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The AGF also stated that Kyari had concealed his ownership of two Maiduguri properties: a commercial center with the address NE/1229 and a Polo playground with the plot number 270.
Kyari was accused of failing to completely reveal his ownership of farmland along the Abuja-Kaduna highway and a Guzape, Abuja, plaza that was still under construction.
Kyari was accused of deposing to an affidavit at the Federal High Court in Maiduguri in suit number, FHC/NG/CS/9/2022 in an effort to conceal the ownership of a plot of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy No: 000271 issued by Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, in violation of section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
The AGF also charged Kyari with lying on an affidavit to conceal his ownership of two properties: a shopping center at Number 4, Aliyu Close along Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. NE/1229, and Plot No. 9, BOTP/63, covered by the grant of a right of occupancy No. BO/1087.
According to the accusations, the DCP intentionally transferred N28.4 million into one bank account, N65.2 million into another, and N95 and N16.9 million into two further bank accounts.
Kyari was also charged with failing to disclose in the NDLEA assets declaration form the proceeds of illegal activity totaling N17,598 in two GTB accounts, N2.9 million in UBA, and N366, 258.77 and N88,000 in Sterling Bank.
Six residential structures and one shopping center belonging to Kyari were flagged for investigation, the NDLEA confirmed in April.
One of them is Assurance Plaza, a two-story retail center with around 100 stores located on Maiduguri’s Giwa Barracks Road.
Six other residences in the Maiduguri New Government Residential Area are also listed (GRA).
In addition to confirming the development, The NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that several of Kyari’s properties in Abuja are the subject of an inquiry.
Babafemi acknowledged that others were being marked in Abuja as well.
Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu, a suspected drug dealer connected to the N3 billion worth of Tramadol confiscated by the then-Kyari-led IRT team, was reportedly detained by NDLEA agents in Lagos, according to a report that was released just 48 hours before to the reveal.
After being listed as wanted by the NDLEA for his role in a cocaine trade, Abba Kyari was detained in February.
