The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the camp of Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), of engaging in a “coordinated campaign of calumny and deliberate misinformation” to derail justice in the alleged drug trafficking trial.
In a statement on Wednesday signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA national coordinator, the association said recent social media reports claimed that two convicted drug traffickers, indicted officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the ongoing trial of Kyari.
BACKGROUND
On February 14, 2022, the NDLEA declared Kyari wanted “over his involvement in a 25kg cocaine deal”.
The anti-drug agency had released a video, which seemingly showed Kyari and an NDLEA official having a conversation inside a car over an illicit drug case.
The suspended police officer was seen handing over some cash to the NDLEA official, which was later said to be $61,400 bribe.
Hours later, the police announced his arrest and subsequent transfer to NDLEA custody.
The suspended DCP had denied involvement in drug trafficking allegations, while claiming that he was being framed.
Prior to the wanted notice of the NDLEA, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicted Kyari for conspiring with Hushpuppi, a self-confessed international fraudster, in a $1.1 million scam targeting Qatari business people.
Subsequently, the NDLEA filed two separate charges, bordering on alleged non-declaration of assets and drug trafficking, against the suspended police officer.
On March 5, a federal high court in Abuja discharged and acquitted Kyari of a 23-count charge of alleged non-declaration of assets filed by the NDLEA.
James Omotosho, presiding judge, held that the prosecution failed to establish its case against Kyari and the other defendants.
Meanwhile, Kyari and four other suspended police officers are also facing a separate trial before Emeka Nwite, a judge, over alleged involvement in a cocaine deal.
Two drug traffickers arrested in the case, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in 2022.
Recently, some social media reports claimed that during the alleged drug trafficking trial, a 27-minute video was played wherein drug traffickers allegedly implicated NDLEA officials in the trafficking scheme at Enugu airport.
‘CONVICTED TRAFFICKERS DENIED CONTACT WITH NDLEA OFFICERS AT ENUGU AIRPORT’
HURIWA said its findings, backed by court records and witness statements, indicate that the narrative being peddled on social media is different from reality.
The association said Ezenwanne and Umeibe, in their official witness statements, “categorically denied any contact or collusion with NDLEA officers at the Enugu airport in January 2022”.
HURIWA said the drug traffickers confessed that their pictures and travel details were sent to Kyari even though the latter was serving a suspension by the police over the FBI case.
“Following an in-depth investigation into recent sponsored reports circulating on social media, which claim that two convicted drug traffickers have indicted officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of complicity in the case, HURIWA can authoritatively confirm that these reports are a total fabrication and a clumsy attempt to subvert the course of justice,” the statement reads.
“Our findings, backed by official court records and witness statements, reveal a starkly different reality from the narrative being pushed by Kyari’s camp.
“In their official witness statements, the convicted traffickers Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne categorically denied any contact or collusion with NDLEA officers at the Enugu airport in January 2022.
“The convicts confessed that their pictures and travel details were actually sent to Abba Kyari.
“Despite being on suspension at the time over another criminal case for which the United States government is still seeking his extradition to the US for trial, Kyari dispatched a team from Abuja to Enugu to intercept the traffickers for his own ends.
“The convicts have stated on record that while in Kyari’s custody, they were forced under duress to indict the NDLEA.
“The ‘video confession’ currently being circulated was scripted, with Kyari’s men actively dictating what the suspects should say while recording.”
The association said “no amount of digital spin can erase the overwhelming evidence already admitted as exhibits in court” against Kyari.
