DCP Abba Kyari; Ex-convicts accuse NDLEA officers of aiding airport clearance
DCP Abba Kyari; Ex-convicts accuse NDLEA officers of aiding airport clearance
Two convicted drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, have told the Federal High Court how officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly assisted them in bypassing security checks at the Enugu International Airport.
The disclosures were contained in a video recording played in open court on Monday during the ongoing trial of former head of the police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, and four other officers.
The co-defendants in the matter include Sunday Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirgba, and John Nuhu.
The video evidence, which had earlier been admitted by the presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, on February 27, was tendered at the instance of defence counsel, Abdul Mohammed, without objection from the prosecution.
In the recording, the two men, who have since completed their two-year prison sentences, narrated how they trafficked cocaine and allegedly evaded airport screening.
Umeibe told the court he ventured into drug trafficking due to financial hardship and confirmed he was arrested at the Enugu airport with cocaine.
He said the drugs were sourced from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adding that he was paid N500,000 for a previous trip and was promised the same amount for the last operation.
“We don’t know who will collect the drugs. After we leave the airport, we will take the night bus to Lagos and call the person we will hand over the drugs to,” he said.
Ezenwanne, who said he was previously a clothing trader, told the court he was recruited into the illicit trade by associates based in Brazil.
He explained that proceeds from the operation were used to settle debts and support his family.
Both men alleged that their identities were pre-shared with NDLEA officers to facilitate their movement through the airport.
“My picture will be sent to the NDLEA (officers) at the airport by the person who sent me this thing (cocaine),” Ezenwanne said.
“The person will now send it to NDLEA (officers). So when we get to the airport, they will now know us and clear us.”
When asked how screening was conducted, he added: “They will open the bag and cover it again… Not properly.”
Following the playback of the video, the defence requested an adjournment to reconcile the transcript with the recording.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to April 20 and 21 for continuation of trial.
