The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an objection by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and ordered that a video recording alleging misconduct by some NDLEA officials be admitted as evidence and played in open court on March 16, 2026.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the ruling during proceedings on Friday, adjourning the matter to allow defence lawyers time to prepare and formally tender the video evidence.
The case centers on the arrest of two suspected international drug traffickers, Patrick Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who were apprehended by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Enugu International Airport on January 19, 2022. They were subsequently handed over to the NDLEA on January 25, 2022, along with seized exhibits.
Police authorities had stated that approximately 21.55 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from the suspects before they were transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation.
However, the NDLEA later accused members of the IRT of tampering with part of the seized cocaine. The IRT officers denied the allegation, insisting that the suspects and exhibits were handed over intact and without interference.
The defence team claims that the video recording contains statements made by the suspects during interrogation by the IRT. According to the defence, the recording allegedly exonerates Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and other IRT officers, while implicating certain NDLEA officials in alleged collaboration with international drug traffickers.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari
During an earlier hearing on January 28, a defence witness testified under cross-examination that in the recorded interrogation, the suspects claimed they had previously been cleared by NDLEA officials and escorted through the airport on several occasions before their eventual arrest by police.
A serving police officer, John Nwonke, testified as the second defence witness (DW2). Led in evidence by counsel to DCP Kyari, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, he told the court that he conducted the interrogation and recorded the video. He also tendered his official identification and service documents in court.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said that after reviewing submissions from both parties, the court found it appropriate to admit the video as evidence. He ordered that it be played publicly in court on March 16, 2026.
Other defendants in the ongoing trial include Sunday J. Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirgba, and John Nuhu, all members of the Police Intelligence Response Team.
The matter continues at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
