Alleged cocaine deal: Court approves NDLEA’s request to review facts in Abba Kyari’s trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, granted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s application to review facts of the two defendants who pleaded guilty in the ongoing trial of suspended DCP Abba Kyai, and others on alleged cocaine deal.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, dismissed the objection raised by counsel for Kyari and other co-defendant officers that granting the request might jeopardise their case.

The two defendants are Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively in the matter.

The two alleged drug traffickers, who were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, pleaded guilty to five, six and seven counts preferred against them by NDLEA.

Delivering the ruling, the presiding judge agreed with the anti-narcotic agency and counsel to Umeibe and Ezenwanne that the objectors had not given sufficient evidence why they would be prejudiced if the court granted the request.

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Justice Nwite aligned with the argument that keeping Umeibe and Ezenwanne in prison while the trial of others last was to infringe on their right to fair hearing going by Section 36(4) of 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He held that the objection lacked merit, and ordered the NDLEA to commence the review of facts of the 6th and 7th defendants’ case.

Nwite then adjourned the matter until May 26 for review of facts and hearing of the motion on notice.

It would be recalled that the NDLEA, on March 7, 2022, arraigned Umeibe and Ezenwanne alongside Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu on eight counts.

The defendants were the suspended officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Unit formerly led by Abba Kyari.

They had, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts leveled against them.

The Star