Abba Kyari: Court Plays Video Showing NDLEA Allegedly Aided Cocaine Smugglers at Airports

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday screened a video presented by the Nigeria Police, through Inspector El-John Nwoke of the Force Headquarters, showing how operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly assisted drug traffickers at airports.

The video was submitted to support an affidavit in the case against DCP Abba Kyari, former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT); Sunday J. Ubua, Assistant Commissioner of Police; Bawa James, Assistant Superintendent of Police; Simon Agirgba, Inspector; and John Nuhu, Inspector—all officers of the Police IRT.
At a previous hearing, Inspector Nwoke, the second defense witness (DW-2), testified under cross-examination by Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN. He described how NDLEA operatives allegedly shielded two traffickers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, at Enugu Airport on January 19, 2022, before the police arrested them.
The traffickers, who were later convicted, were caught by the IRT with 21.55kg of cocaine at Enugu Airport. The case took a dramatic turn when police declared Kyari and others wanted and subsequently charged them in court.
Nwoke said the traffickers told him they arrived from Ethiopia with the cocaine and that they had carried drugs multiple times before. According to the witness, the traffickers explained that NDLEA officers were aware of their arrivals each time, as those who assigned the job would send their photos to the airport officers.
“They said when they arrive, they would smile as a signal, and the NDLEA officers would unzip and rezip their bags, pretending to inspect them, effectively clearing them,” Nwoke told the court.
The witness added that the traffickers’ instructions on delivery were coded and usually carried out at night via buses. The details of these confessions were also captured in the police-recorded video.
At the resumed hearing, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the 27-minute, 2-second video to be played. In it, Ezenwanne admitted, “I am aware it was cocaine” and confirmed it was not his first time carrying the drug, explaining that NDLEA officers would routinely clear them at the airport before they continued to deliver the substances by night bus. Umeibe corroborated the procedure, explaining that the traffickers’ photos were sent to NDLEA ahead of their arrival, ensuring smooth passage.
The court adjourned the case to May 20.