By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Two convicted drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, on Monday narrated in open court how officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly facilitated their passage through security checks at Enugu International Airport before their eventual arrest by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
The duo, who have served their two-year jail terms, gave the testimony via a 27-minute, 2-second video recording played before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, at the instance of former IRT head DCP Abba Kyari and his co-defendants.
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The video, marked Exhibit D-3, was tendered through the second defence witness (DW-2), Insp El-John Nwoke, and admitted in evidence on February 27, 2026, after a ruling on its admissibility.
Court Proceedings Defence counsel Abdul Mohammed (SAN), appearing for Kyari, eeapplied to play the CD in open court to demonstrate the defendants’ case. Prosecuting counsel did not object, and Justice Nwite directed that the video be played.
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In the footage, Umeibe and Ezenwanne standing and responding to questions were cautioned that their statements could be used against them in court. Both confessed to trafficking cocaine and detailed how they allegedly evaded detection at the airport.
Umeibe’s Confession (29 years old at time of arrest) was Lured into trafficking by a friend named Bassey due to financial difficulties and First trip in 2021 earned him ₦500,000; expected same for the second trip the Cocaine sourced was from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; packaged and transported via night bus to Lagos after clearing airport.
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Claimed NDLEA officers at Enugu airport were pre-notified via photographs sent ahead: “If we want to move from Addis Ababa, we will snap pictures and send them to the person who sent us. The person will now send it to NDLEA (officers). So when we get to the airport, they will now know us and clear us.” “They will open the bag and cover it again… Not properly.”
Ezenwanne’s Confession (45 years old at time of arrest, a Secondary school certificate holder; previously in clothing business, also Lured into cocaine trafficking by Brazilian-based friends. This was his second cocaine trip (four prior travels without drugs). Similar modus operandi: photograph taken and allegedly sent to NDLEA officers for clearance.
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“My picture will be sent to the NDLEA (officers) at the airport by the person who sent me this thing (cocaine)… I think it is for the NDLEA.” Used proceeds to pay debts and support family; acknowledged trafficking cocaine is illegal and harmful.
After the video ended, defence counsel sought adjournment to cross-check transcripts. Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to April 20 and 21, 2026, for continuation of trial and cross-examination.
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Kyari, ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Insp Simon Agirgba, and Insp John Nuhu face charges related to alleged complicity in drug trafficking and other offences linked to the same Enugu airport arrests in January 2022.
The video forms part of the defence effort to demonstrate that the traffickers had pre-arranged protection from NDLEA officers, shifting blame away from the IRT team.
The case remains one of the most high-profile corruption and drug-related trials involving senior police officers in recent Nigerian history.
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By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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