The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari and his two brothers to open their defence in a high-profile case involving alleged asset concealment and money laundering.

Justice James Omotosho on Tuesday dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution had presented sufficient prima facie evidence for the trial to proceed. “Holding that a prima facie case has been established does not imply guilt. It simply allows the defendants to exhaust their defence options before a final judgment,” the judge clarified.

Kyari, alongside his brothers Mohammed and Ali, faces 23 counts including failure to fully declare assets, concealment of property ownership, and conversion of proceeds of crime. These offences fall under Section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act and Section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

The court rejected arguments from the defendants that evidence involving state land must be limited to certified title documents, stating that assessing evidence weight was premature at this stage. Justice Omotosho emphasized that even a slight connection between the defendants and the alleged offences constitutes prima facie evidence.

Kyari and his brothers were given three days to enter their defence, with trial proceedings adjourned to November 4, 5, and 6.

The case stems from investigations into several properties linked to Kyari, including six residential houses and a two-storey shopping plaza, Assurance Plaza, in Maiduguri, following NDLEA’s arrest of suspected drug kingpin Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu in connection with a N3 billion tramadol deal. NDLEA reports also traced N4.2 billion across accounts associated with Kyari and his deputy, ACP Sunday Ubua.

The ruling marks a significant development in a case that tests the enforcement of asset declaration laws and anti-money laundering statutes in Nigeria.