Abba Kyari: Today, 28/1/2026 in the Court Room:
Abba Kyari: Police Indict NDLEA Over Cocaine Seized from Drug Suspects Arrested by Police IRT Officers at Enugu Airport
The Nigerian Police, on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, indicted operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over a 21.55kg consignment of cocaine seized at the Enugu Airport on January 19, 2022, by officers of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), after the drug traffickers were allegedly cleared at the airport by conniving NDLEA officers on duty.
The indictment emerged during proceedings when the second defence witness (DW2), John Nwonke, was led in evidence by defence counsel to Abba Kyari, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN.
Other defendants in the case include Sunday J. Ubua, an Assistant Commissioner of Police; Bawa James, an Assistant Superintendent of Police; Simon Agirgba, an Inspector; and John Nuhu, also an Inspector—all officers of the Police IRT.
The witness, who identified himself as a serving police officer and presented both a warrant card and office ID, told the court that on January 20, 2022, he was invited to the office of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
He stated that, being a trained professional police camera and video expert, he was approached by the team lead, ASP James Bawa, who led the team that arrested the two drug traffickers—Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne—at the Enugu Airport on January 19, 2022, after the suspects were allegedly cleared by NDLEA officers on duty.
The defence witness said: “I was told that they arrested and brought in suspects with suspected cocaine from Ethiopia to Nigeria, and that there was a need for me to conduct a video interview on the drug suspects.”
He explained before the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, that he works with the police Media and Public Relations Department and has interviewed several suspects in the past, hence he proceeded to interview the drug traffickers after setting up his video equipment.
“I asked them for their personal data and other details, and they provided it. It was Chibunna Patrick Umeibe I first started to interview. After he gave me all his personal information and place of origin, etc., I asked him, ‘How do you people bring in the drugs to Nigeria?’ He explained that they go to Ethiopia and bring drugs into Nigeria through Enugu Airport several times.
“Patrick said he had brought drugs into Nigeria four times, and Emeka said he had brought drugs about two times. They said before they arrive at Enugu Airport, the owners of the drugs usually snap their pictures at the Ethiopian airport and send them to NDLEA operatives on duty at the Enugu Airport.
“At the airport in Enugu, the NDLEA operatives will look at the pictures sent to them and then smile at us. The reason they smile is to encourage us that we should not be afraid,” he said, quoting the suspects.
Continuing, he quoted them as saying:
“They will take us to their NDLEA desk at the airport, zip and unzip the bags, pretending that they have checked them, and then give us our bags and allow us to leave the airport. Patrick said they have done the business with NDLEA four times, and Emeka said they have done the business twice with NDLEA.”
“Unfortunately, this time, after the NDLEA cleared us out of the airport, we were arrested by the Police IRT outside the Enugu Airport,” he further quoted them as saying.
He also told the court:
“I asked them how they take the drugs to the owners and whether they knew the owners. They said, ‘We usually travel at night with night buses, and the owners know how to collect the drugs from us.’”
According to the witness, several other questions were asked during the interview:
“There are many questions we asked that are contained in the video before the court which I cannot remember, but when the video is played before the court, everything will be very clear.”
However, the prosecution counsel objected to the playing of the video, arguing that it was contrary to Section 18 of the Evidence Act.
In response, defence counsel Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, argued that: “The playing of the video is necessary in order for those standing trial to effectively defend themselves before the court. The section does not deny the presentation of documents; rather, it allows for documents, and this DVD should be admitted as evidence.
“My Lord, the two drug traffickers who were arrested by the Police IRT at the Enugu Airport on January 19, 2022, transferred to the NDLEA with the drugs, and subsequently convicted—Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne—are not parties to this case.
“They stood trial and were convicted, and they pleaded guilty right from the beginning of the trial, having confessed after their arrest by the Police IRT, continued their confessions after being transferred to the NDLEA, and pleaded guilty in court.
“In fact, the records of this court show that their names were mentioned in relation to this matter,” he said, expressing concern as to why the prosecution counsel objected to the playing of the video.
He further submitted that the defence witness, DW2, had claimed ownership of the interview as the person who conducted it, and:
“So it is only proper that the video is played to aid in the defence of the defendants.”
When the prosecution counsel attempted to further explain, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, warned him to restrict himself strictly to matters of law and what was before the court.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to February 27 for ruling on the admissibility of the DVD video and the continuation of hearing.
Watch video below;
John Akpata
Federal High Court, Abuja
