Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has presented a video to a Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging that operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) facilitated the actions of drug traffickers at airport facilities.
Kyari is currently on trial, alongside other officers from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) – ACP Sunday Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspectors Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu, and ASP John Umoru (who is reportedly at large) – for charges connected to drug-related offences.
The NDLEA had previously arraigned Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne in 2022 for similar offences. Both individuals subsequently pleaded guilty and received convictions from the court.
During the proceedings, Inspector El-John Nwoke, a defence witness from the Force Headquarters, testified about the police apprehension of the convicted individuals at the Enugu Airport. He stated they were found with a 21.55kg consignment of cocaine.
Under examination by defence counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness reported that the convicted traffickers informed him that they had been involved in the drug trade for an extended period, operating under the protection of NDLEA officials. He further stated that the traffickers claimed they were cleared by the agency on the day of their arrest and expressed surprise when apprehended by the police.
In a 27-minute video recorded by the police on January 20, 2022, one of the convicts, Ezenwanne, reportedly confirmed awareness of carrying cocaine, noting it was his second time doing so. He also mentioned that officials typically did not conduct thorough searches upon arrival and often overlooked suspicious items due to prior knowledge of their movements.
Justice Emeka Nwite has scheduled the next hearing for May 20 and 21.
Separately, Abba Kyari was recently acquitted, along with his two brothers, in a different case concerning false asset declaration.
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