A Federal High Court in Abuja has heard that part of the cocaine recovered from drug traffickers by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by the suspended DCP Abba Kyari was tampered with.
The head of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohammed Ajia said men of the IRT arrested two drug traffickers – Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne – with the drugs they brought in from Ethiopia and transferred them to his command.
Ajia said when the drugs were tested 80 per cent was pure cocaine while the other appeared adulterated.
He spoke yesterday while testifying as a prosecution witness in the trial of Kyari and four members of the IRT – ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu.
Kyari and others are charged with conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine; dealing in cocaine without lawful authority; conspiracy to tamper with cocaine and unlawfully tampering with the 21.35kg of cocaine seized from Umeibe and Ezenwanne.
Kyari was charged alone with attempting to obstruct officials of the NDLEA in the conduct of their activities by offering them bribe.
Ajia was led in evidence by the Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, NDLEA.
He told the court that on February 4 this year, he received a transfer letter addressed to him about two suspected drug traffickers and some exhibits, including the drugs.
