Mr Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, the convicted drug trafficker in the trial of DCP Abba Kyari and others has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that a whistleblower from Brazil gave the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) information that led to their arrest at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
Umeibe the second convict in the trial made the disclosure during a cross examination by Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, counsel to Kyari and two others, before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The witness said the cocaine he imported into the country was delivered to him in Ethiopia by somebody from Brazil.
When Ikpeazu asked him if he was aware that the whistleblower knew the movement of the drugs from Brazil, Ethiopia and to Enugu International Airport, he said: “I didn’t know.”
Umeibe, while being led in evidence-in-chief by NDLEA’s lawyer, Joseph Sunday, said on Jan. 19 when he arrived at the airport in Enugu, he met COVID-19 and Immigration agents.
“As we landed at Enugu Airport, I passed COVID-19 people, after COVID 19, I met Immigration officers and after Immigration, I met two young men they were on suits.
“So the two young men took my international passport and asked me where I was coming from.
“I told them I was coming from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They checked my passport and they referred me to one checking canter.
“When I got there, I met about four or five men standing there. They collected my passport.
“After checking my passport, they said, ‘young man, as you are looking fresh, do New Year for us.’
“And I gave them N5, 000, and after that, I went out,” he said.
He said as he walked to his co-convict, Ezenwanne, who was already waiting for him by the parking lot, a man in mufti accosted him and demanded for his passport.
“And I asked him what for? What do you have to do with my international passport, besides, I don’t know you?
“He now put hand inside his pocket and brought out police ID card. “Before I knew it, other policemen were standing at my back on mufti,” he said.
Umeibe said the policemen then brought out their jackets with IRT inscription and
arrested him and Ezenwanne.
He said all efforts made to pacify the police officers to release them were unsuccessful.
He said ASP James led the team for their arrest and they were brought to IRT Office in Abuja.
Umeibe and his accomplice Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne smuggled the two bags of cocaine which is now exhibits in the trial into the country from Ethiopia through Enugu International Airport.
The two convicts were charged along with Abba Kyari,ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu .
They were sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the three count, which the judge held would run concurrently after they pleaded guilty following a plea bargain agreement with the anti-narcotic agency.