Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne to two years imprisonment, following their involvement in illegal possession of 21.35kg cocaine and being co-defendants in the drug trafficking case against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Commissioner (DCP), Abba Kyari.
In his judgement, Justice Nwite also convicted Umeibe and Ezenwanne on counts 5, 6 and 7 of the drug trafficking charge, preferred aginst them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The counts read; That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male adult and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult on or about the 19th January 2022 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority imported 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
*That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male, adult; and you Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult on or about the 25th January 2022 at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority imported 21.35kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to an punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
*That you Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, male, adult; and you Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, male adult and one IK, now at large, on the 25th January 2022, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly possessed 21.35 kilogrammes of cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
The two convicts, who are the sixth and seventh defendants in the matter, had pleaded guilty to possession of illicit drugs before the Federal High Court when they were arraignment alongside Kyari on March 7.
When the charge was read to DCP Abba Kyari, Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu, they pleaded not guilty to the alleged drug trafficking charge.
Having pleaded guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne opted for a plea bargain between them and the NDLEA.
The judge consequently based his verdict on the terms of the plea bargain.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter till June 18, 19 and 20 for continuation of trial of Kyari and others.
