NDLEA: Our drug trafficking case against Abba Kyari still on

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its drug trafficking case against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari remains active and is scheduled to continue at the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 16, 2026.

The NDLEA said the case will resume before Justice Emeka Nwite, stressing that the matter is separate from a different case in which Kyari was discharged on Thursday, March 5.

The anti-drug agency made the clarification while reacting to a ruling by Justice James Omotosho, who discharged Kyari on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and non-declaration of assets filed against him by the agency.

Speaking on the development, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that the ruling by Justice Omotosho should not be confused with the main drug-related case against the suspended police officer.

Babafemi emphasised that the drug trafficking trial remains ongoing and would continue as scheduled before Justice Nwite.

He said: “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 of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, March 16.

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“That one is very much on course. The case determined by Justice Omotosho today is a different case of money laundering and non-declaration of assets.”

Babafemi added that the agency’s prosecution team would study the details of the judgement before deciding whether to challenge the ruling that discharged Kyari.

The NDLEA spokesman disclosed that the legal team has already been directed to obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement to enable the agency to determine its next line of action.

He reiterated that the agency remains committed to pursuing the substantive drug case to its logical conclusion in line with due process and the rule of law.

Kyari, a former head of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, is facing prosecution by the anti-drug agency over alleged involvement in drug-related offences.

The continuation of the case before Justice Nwite on March 16 is expected to mark the next stage in the trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Star