Crime
Abba Kyari denies 14 uncovered assets, says I’ve only N2.8m in my bank account
Besides,the former head of Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT,said contrary to report huge sums of money said to have been traced to his bank account,he has just N2.8 million in his UBA account and another N200,000 in his Sterling Bank account.
Kyari denial was contained in a statement reacting to reports in the media that 14 assets, including shopping mall, residential estate, polo playground, lands and farmland belonging to him were uncovered by the federal government.
In the statement by his lawyer,Barr. Hamza Dan Tani,claimed that,”All the allegations on monies and properties by NDLEA belonging to Abba Kyari are false, untrue and lies, just to mislead the public into wrongly believing that it belongs to Abba kyari.”
According to him,”The business men who own those properties and gave their documents have already filed their cases against NDLEA in Federal High Court Maiduguri.”
The full statement,sent to Vanguard read:”Our attention has been drawn to the False publication in some sections of the media of Monday, 5th 2022 wherein the papers said “the Federal Government has uncovered 14 assets, including shopping mall, residential estate, polo playground, lands and farmland belonging to a former commander, Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
“We want to set the records straight for members of the public to know the truth. NDLEA’s case in court against Abba Kyari and 4 others is not going well for them. They expected the Court case to go smoothly in their favour the way their sponsored media trials went viral between February to April 2022. They failed to understand that unlike media trials courts need real Evidence and facts which NDLEA don’t have in this case.
“By all means, out of desperation, again, NDLEA wanted to spoil Abba Kyari’s name at all cost because they know that all their initial efforts have failed as overwhelming majority of good Nigerians who want peace and security for the Nation are still behind Abba Kyari despite the set up by NDLEA against Abba Kyari in January 2022, which was followed by massive sponsored media trial earlier this year.
“Again NDLEA is sponsoring fabricated lies, untrue stories, and flimsy allegations, trump up and false charges in Court without justification against Abba kyari.
“On 29th day of August 2022, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Under Justice Inyang Eko dismissed a suit filed by the Attorney General of Federation to Extradite DCP Abba Kyari to America.
“On 30th Day of August, NDLEA filed another 24 Count charges against Dcp Abba Kyari just to mislead the general public and tarnish his image despite the same matter being before Federal High Court in Maiduguri and without any Evidence linking Abba kyari to any of those properties or any link to any Drug money, stealing government money or any proceed of any crime.
“All the allegations on monies and properties by NDLEA belonging to Abba Kyari are false, untrue and lies, just to mislead the public into wrongly believing that it belongs to Abbakyari. The business men who own those properties and gave their documents have already filed their cases against NDLEA in Federal High Court Maiduguri.
NDLEA without any evidence went and marked innocent peoples properties in Maiduguri and Abuja in April 2022 and released the news to the media which went viral April 2022.
“All the owners of those properties with their documents have immediately filed their cases against the NDLEA in the Federal High Court Maiduguri. The owners of the properties who are all renowned business men, running many businesses for over 20 years have brought all their proofs and evidences before the federal High Court in Maiduguri.
NDLEA lawyers appeared before the federal High court Maiduguri twice without providing any evidence linking such properties to Abba Kyari. The Federal High Court Maiduguri will continue the case October 2022 after their Vacation.
“This is just a malicious media trial without any evidence to show in the Court. If NDLEA has any evidence linking Abba kyari to any of those properties apart from his farm land and 1 house, they should release it to the public immediately.
“These whole properties matter is before Federal High Court in Maiduguri but NDLEA are still desperate by trying to link Abba kyari without any evidence to financial crimes and properties that do not belong to him, neither is there one kobo of drug money or any crime money that is linked to Abba Kyari in any way.
“We challenge NDLEA to release the Evidence to the public immediately if any. The whole thing is only aimed at Media trials as they have no Evidence to show to the Court. If they have the Evidence let them release it to the media. This is how all their cases will crumble in the courts since their aim is only a media trial.
“For the records, the total money in Abba Kyari’s account is 2.8 Million Naira in his UBA account, the only account he has been using for the past 8 years, 7 thousand pounds in GTB kept over 8yrs ago and 350k Naira in GTB kept many years ago.
“Less than 200k naira in Sterling Bank and Access Bank Account not in use for over 8 years. These are all the money that DCP Abba Kyari has in his accounts, which he has declared and NDLEA should immediately release all Abba Kyari’s account statements to the public if what they are saying is true. Meanwhile notwithstanding that no one kobo of the above mentioned amounts is linked to any crime or drug money, NDLEA Maliciously blocked all the accounts to deprive Kyari of the small money to use in taking care of his family.
“Please disregard the fabricated and malicious News. Let them show the Evidence to the world linking Abba Kyari to any drug money or any crime money or let them show document or Evidence linking Abba Kyari to any of those properties they are mentioning for which the real owners have already filed their cases before the Federal High Court in Maiduguri since April 2022 against the NDLEA because NDLEA marked their properties without asking for the owners or their Documents. All the matters are before the courts and the courts should be allowed to decide on the matters please.”
Vanguard
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 property linked to a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment delivered in Abuja on Wednesday, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had established the reasonable suspicion required by law to justify the forfeiture of the assets.
The judge ruled that Malami, his family members and companies linked to the properties failed to dislodge the commission’s allegation that the assets were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
Before delivering the substantive judgment, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed several applications, motions on notice and applications to show cause filed by the respondents, describing them as “wanting in merit.”
She held that the issue before the court was not the ownership of the properties but the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire them.
“The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the property,” the judge said.
She added that the respondents had “not dislodged the reasonable suspicion that the property was acquired by unlawful activities.”
Relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, Justice Abdulmalik granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
The court, however, discharged the interim forfeiture order in respect of some of the property.
The anti-graft agency had, in January, instituted civil forfeiture proceedings seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at N212.8 billion, alleging that they were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former AGF.
Following the publication, Malami, his wife, Nana Hadiza Malami; his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami; and several companies linked to the assets challenged the interim forfeiture order.
They argued that the property were lawfully acquired and contended that the EFCC failed to establish any nexus between the assets and the alleged unlawful activities.
The respondents further maintained that the commission relied on speculation rather than credible evidence and neither proved that the property were proceeds of crime nor identified any specific criminal offence from which they were allegedly derived.
After the court resumed from its annual vacation, the case was reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik for hearing and determination.
At the hearing, counsel for the EFCC argued that investigations showed the property were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and held in the names of individuals and companies acting as fronts for Malami.
The commission also submitted that, under the law governing civil forfeiture proceedings, it only needed to establish reasonable suspicion and not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
After the parties adopted their final written addresses in May, the court reserved judgment.
The judgment, initially fixed for July 6, was deferred twice before Justice Abdulmalik finally delivered the ruling on Wednesday.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Command disclosed that a combined team of police officers and other security agencies had been mobilised to the area immediately after receiving reports of the attack.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said security operatives had already recorded a breakthrough, revealing that one of the abducted students had been rescued.
She added that efforts were being intensified to secure the release of the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to the police spokesperson, the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, accompanied by the Brigade Commander and the Kogi State Security Adviser, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd.), had departed for the community to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and coordinate ongoing security operations.
The Command assured residents that further details would be made public as investigations progress and more verified information becomes available.
The latest attack adds to growing concerns over the security of schools and examination centres across the country, particularly as candidates continue to sit for this year’s NECO examinations.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has foiled an alleged kidnap plot targeting prominent personalities in the state and arrested a suspected leader of a three-man fraud syndicate accused of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public in Anambra and Enugu states.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the development in a statement, attributing the breakthrough to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, in Oyi Local Government Area.
According to Ikenga, police operatives on the evening of July 11, 2026, foiled the suspected kidnap attempt, rescued a victim, and arrested 66-year-old Kenneth Nnaji for his alleged involvement in a criminal syndicate specialising in obtaining money under false pretences in Awka.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is allegedly a member of a three-man gang that has been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public through elaborate schemes across Anambra and Enugu states.
“The suspect, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to his involvement in the criminal enterprise and provided useful information on the group’s modus operandi,” Ikenga stated.
He explained that members of the syndicate allegedly disguise themselves in branded overalls and caps while posing as representatives of reputable companies.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly obtain goods from prospective victims under the pretext of collecting samples before directing them to another location, claiming larger quantities of the goods are available for purchase at heavily discounted prices. The victims are then allegedly defrauded through the scheme.
Ikenga said the suspect identified other members of the syndicate as Christopher (surname yet to be ascertained), Jacob Musa, and Joseph (surname yet to be ascertained), all of whom remain at large.
He added that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, urged members of the public to remain vigilant and verify the identities and credentials of individuals claiming to represent companies before engaging in any business transactions.
He also directed the investigating team to conduct a comprehensive investigation, arrest all fleeing suspects, recover the proceeds of the alleged fraud, and ensure the prosecution of all those found culpable in accordance with the law.
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested self-proclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, in Osun State, hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Adeyemi was apprehended on Tuesday by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and is expected to be transferred to Abuja to face criminal charges.
Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was carried out by the Intelligence Response Team from Abuja.
“Yes, it is confirmed. The Intelligence Response Team from Abuja arrested him here in Osun,” Ojelabi said.
The arrest followed an order by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, after Adeyemi failed to appear in court for his scheduled arraignment on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
The bench warrant was issued after the prosecution, led by the Nigeria Police Force, informed the court that the defendant was absent without lawful justification.
Justice Umar rejected the explanation by Adeyemi’s counsel that his client stayed away because he feared for his safety, ruling that the defendant must be compelled to appear before the court to answer the charges against him.
The case was subsequently adjourned until September 30, 2026, for arraignment.
Adeyemi’s arrest came barely 24 hours after he denied reports that he was evading law enforcement authorities.
During an interview on Channels Television on Monday, he insisted he was not in hiding but claimed his life was under threat.
He also reiterated his allegation that he paid ₦400 million through an intermediary to secure his appointment as Director-General of the controversial council and called for an independent investigation into the matter.
The Nigeria Police accused Adeyemi of forging official government documents, including a purported presidential appointment letter allegedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.Executive Branch
Investigators further alleged that he falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has repeatedly stated does not exist, and operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.
If found guilty, Adeyemi faces up to 21 years’ imprisonment on the forgery-related charges without the option of a fine, while the impersonation charge carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment or a fine.
The Bauchi State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the death of a 20-year-old man, Abdullahi Adamu, following allegations that he was assaulted while in police custody in Misau Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the police became aware of reports circulating on social media alleging that officers attached to a police outpost under the Misau Division assaulted the Sebore Village resident during interrogation.
According to the statement, Adamu was initially taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Misau, for treatment before being referred to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, where he was confirmed dead on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, stressing that the Command remains committed to professionalism, respect for human rights, and due process.
He assured that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary and legal action in accordance with the law.
“The Command is committed to ensuring that justice is served, and appropriate disciplinary and legal actions will be taken against any personnel found culpable,” the statement read.
The police also expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
The Command appealed to members of the public with relevant information to assist the ongoing investigation, noting that it has not confirmed the allegations against its personnel and that investigations are ongoing to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
-
News5 days agoUS based Catholic Priest commits suicide to avoid being sent back to Nigeria
-
Politics5 days ago2027: Shettima retained as running mate as parties race to meet INEC deadline
-
News5 days agoBREAKING: Kidnapped Oyo pupils, teachers regain freedom
-
News2 days agoAlleged Certificate Forgery: Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji Pleads Not Guilty, Gets ₦20m Bail
-
Crime5 days ago56 days in captivity: How the Oyo school children were rescued
-
Politics4 days agoKeyamo’s Lies Exposed As Eyewitness Faults Claims Against Obi
-
Crime4 days agoAnambara Underworld: 25 Years After Onitsha was liberated from Deri Nwamama
-
Obituary2 days agoFamily Announces Funeral of Mrs. Anna Ugochi Nwigwe, Who Died at 78