Drug trafficking: We’re guilty, Kyari’s co-defendants admit

•As Kyari, four others pleaded not guilty

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Chibuna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, two of Abba Kyari’s co-defendants, in the drug trafficking offences trial, yesterday pleaded guilty to their charges.

Also, yesterday, the principal defendant, the detained Commander of the Intelligence Response Team(IRT), Force Intelligence Bureau, Nigerian Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty to the 8-count charge.

The two non-police officers, pleaded guilty to counts 5, 6 and 7 as the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned them at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The seven defendants are facing eight-count charge of drug trafficking, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N39 Laws of the federation 2004.

When the three counts charges which relate to unlawful importation of 21.35 kilograms of cocaine was read out to the defendants, to the surprised of the open court, pleaded guilty.

“I’m guilty my Lord,” they pleaded, respectively.

Sequel to guilty plea of the two defendants, Justice Emeka Nwike, adjourned to March 28, for reveal of facts and 14 March for bail application for Kyari and four others, who pleaded not guilty to the charged.

In the count five, the NDLEA said, 

“That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male adult and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult on or about the 19th January 2022 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority imported 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The count six of the charge reads, ‘’That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male, adult; and you Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult on or about the 25th January 2022 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority imported 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to an punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

 While count seven reads. “That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male, adult; and you Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult and one IK, now at large, on the 25th January 2022, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly possessed 21.35 kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.