A police officer, Insp. El-John Nwonke, on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, how the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s officers aided the two convicts in the ongoing trial of suspended Head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari, for an alleged cocaine deal to beat security checks at Enugu International Airport.
Nwonke, the 2nd defence witness (DW-2), told Justice Emeka Nwite while being led in evidence-in-chief by Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).
Kyari was arraigned by the NDLEA alongside four other suspended IRT officers on an an eight-count charge of drug d trafficking.
The agency had accused the defendants of conspiracy, illegal dealing in cocaine, importation of cocaine and obstruction.
The four officers are ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirgba and Insp. John Nuhu.
The two convicted drug traffickers were Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne.
The duo were said to have been arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the IRT officers and handed over to the NDLEA.
Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who were non-police officers, later pleaded guilty to charges against them in June 14, 2022, and were sentenced to a two-year jail term.
However, the affected police officers, after their arraignment on March 7, 2022, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After the NDLEA concluded its case, Kyari and his co-defendants opened their defence.
Nwonke, while giving his evidence, said he was serving with the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) of the Nigerian Police Force, Abuja, when the two suspects were arrested by the IRT officers and brought for investigation.
He said he was part of the team that conducted an interview session for the suspects on January 20, 2022, where their statements were taken and the session was recorded.
The witness said the recorded video was transferred into a digital video disc (DVD).
He said during the session, the duo confessed that the police officers arrested them with the substance, said to be cocaine, at the airport after the officers of the NDLEA on duty had cleared them.
Nwonke said Umeibe and Ezenwanne’s data was collected, including their state of origin.
