Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, the co-defendants of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, in an alleged hard drug trafficking offences has baged two years imprisonment by Justice Emeka Nwite of the federal high court, on Tuesday.
The convicts, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants had, on arraignment, pleaded guilty to the drug-related charges.
The sentenced was placed based on their admittance to the charges placed before them by the National Drug Law Enforcement NDLEA.
At the proceedings, NDLEA’s counsel, Mr Sunday Joseph, told the court that two motions seeking for a plea bargain in respect of Umeibe and Ezenwanne had been filed.
Counsel to the two defendants, Emmanuel Okenyi also concurred with Joseph’s submission and counsel for other defendants, including Abba Kyari, did not oppose the motions.
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In his judgment, Justice Nwite, held that having admitted to having committed the offence preferred against them in counts 5, 6 and 7, the two defendants “are hereby convicted accordingly.”
Justice Nwite said that the sentences shall run concurrently, starting from the day the defendants were arrested by the NDLEA.
However, the trial of Abba Kyari in the 8-count criminal charges has been fixed for July 18, 19 and 20 also by Justice Emeka Nwite.
In the month of March this year, The NDLEA, arraigned Abba Kyari, four of his colleagues in the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team and the two convicted persons on eight-count criminal charges bordering on alleged involvement in a cocaine deal.
However, the conviction and subsequent sentencing of the two convicts were delayed following claims by Abba Kyari that it may affect his trial as well as others who pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Umeibe and Ezenwanne were said to be drug traffickers, arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the Nigerian police and handed over to the NDLEA.