In a dramatic testimony before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, convicted drug trafficker Emeka Ezenwanne revealed startling details of a cocaine smuggling operation, exposing bribery at Nigerian airports, international drug exchanges, and alleged evidence tampering involving operatives linked to suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.
Ezenwanne, currently serving a two-year sentence at the Suleja Correctional Centre, appeared as the fifth prosecution witness in the high-profile trial of Kyari and four other police officers. His testimony laid bare glaring vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s security system and raised troubling questions about the handling of a major narcotics case.
The Cocaine Handover in Addis Ababa
Ezenwanne recounted his journey to Ethiopia, where the illicit exchange took place. “On January 15, 2022, I flew to Addis Ababa via Ethiopian Airlines,” he told the court. “At the airport lounge, two men who had just arrived from Brazil handed me ten sachets of cocaine. One of them even took my photograph after the exchange.”
The ₦10,000 Bribe That Bypassed Security
Upon returning to Nigeria through Enugu International Airport on January 19, Ezenwanne disclosed how immigration officials facilitated his passage, for a fee. “They told me to pay for a ‘smooth search.’ I gave them ₦10,000, and they let me walk through without any checks,” he testified.
The Shocking Arrest
Moments after reuniting with his associate, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe, outside the airport, their operation unravelled. “As soon as I approached him, a Toyota Sienna pulled up. Armed men rushed out, and forced me into the vehicle,” Ezenwanne recalled. “I screamed, ‘Jesus! Is this how it ends?”
Missing Drugs and Tampered Evidence
The suspects were taken to a remote police station, where their bags were searched before being transferred to the now-disbanded Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office in Abuja. However, Ezenwanne noticed discrepancies. “When we saw our bags again on January 25, the contents were different. I originally had ten sachets, but only eight remained. My associate also noticed missing items,” he revealed.
Even more alarming, some of the recovered sachets later tested negative for cocaine when handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
No Direct Link to Kyari
Under cross-examination by Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Kyari’s lead defence counsel, Ezenwanne admitted: “I never saw or spoke to the first defendant (Kyari) at any point.” However, he maintained that he and Umeibe were detained despite offering to surrender the drugs upon arrest.
Ezenwanne’s explosive testimony could mark a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking, exposing not only international smuggling routes but also deep-seated corruption within security agencies. His account raises critical questions about how the drug exhibits allegedly disappeared while in police custody.
As the trial continues, the nation watches closely, awaiting the collision of truth, justice, and systemic corruption in what may become one of Nigeria’s most sensational police scandals.
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