NDLEA Clarifies: Abba Kyari’s Main Drug Trial Still Ongoing Despite Discharge In Separate Case

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has clarified that the substantive drug trafficking case against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari remains active and will continue before the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja.

The clarification follows a ruling by Justice James Omotosho, who discharged Kyari in a separate 23-count charge related to the alleged non-declaration of assets.

In a statement, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that the court’s decision concerns a different case involving money laundering and asset declaration and does not affect the core drug trafficking prosecution.
Babafemi stressed that the agency’s primary case against Kyari is proceeding before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court and is scheduled to continue on Monday.

“First, I need to clarify that the ruling by Justice Omotosho is completely different from the main and substantive drug case, which continues before Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday. That one is very much on course,” Babafemi said.

According to the NDLEA spokesman, the agency’s legal team will first obtain a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho to study the details before deciding on its next line of action.

He noted that the options being considered could include filing an appeal if the review of the judgment warrants such a step.
Kyari, a former head of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, has been facing multiple legal battles since 2022 after the NDLEA accused him and several others of involvement in drug trafficking offences.

The agency maintains that its prosecution in the drug-related case remains unaffected by the latest ruling and will proceed as scheduled before the Federal High Court in Abuja.