The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the trial of the suspended deputy commissioner of police Mr. Abba Kyari, in camera, was informed by security concern about the trial and the need to protect the undercover witnesses who testified before the court.
Kyari, who headed the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force before he ran into trouble, is being prosecuted alongside four others for drug offences.
His co-defendants are Messrs Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John Nuhu, listed as second to fifth defendants.
Among other things, they were alleged to have unlawfully tampered with 21.25 kilogramme worth of cocaine seized from two drug traffickers and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.
Before the commencement of trial yesterday (Tuesday) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Emeka Nwite excused journalists, other litigants’ lawyers and persons who were present to exit the courtroom.
The judge issued the order upon an application by the lead counsel for the NDLEA, Mr. Sunday Joseph, who urged the court to protect the identity of his next set of witnesses who were to give evidence in the trial.
Briefing journalists later, Joseph said the under-cover witnesses had to be protected for security reasons.
“You see, some of these trials there are security concern and then we agreed among the lawyers; both myself and the defendants.
“These are class of witnesses that needed to be protected; they are undercover witnesses,” he said.
When asked whether such act would not prevent the public from knowing what transpired in court, he said: “That is why, you know I don’t grant press interview.
“That is why I made an exception to tell you.”
On what happened in the courtroom, Joseph said the testimony of an additional witness was taken.
The lawyer said bank documents he sought to be tendered as exhibits were opposed to by the defendants and he responded.
“So ruling of the court is reserved on the admissibility of the evidence we sought to tender to 9 June,” he said.
Mr. Michael Mbanefo, counsel for the third defendant, James, also told newsmen that evidence of one of the witnesses was taken “but it was scuttled by the documents they wanted to tender which we opposed vehemently. So the case was adjourned for ruling.”
Kyari and other police officers, who are on suspension, are being charged by the NDLEA on allegations bordering on tampering and dealing with part of the 21.8 kilogrammes of cocaine recovered from two convicts.
The accused, who had been on suspension pending the hearing and determination of the matter, are accused of alleged of alleged compromise.
They were arraigned alongside Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who conspired with some other persons (now at large), to import 21.35kg of cocaine into the country.
Umeibe and Ezenwanne were said to have been arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu by the Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
They were subsequently brought to Abuja and handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.
The duo pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them counts preferred against them while the police officers on trial pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Umeibe and Ezenwanne were convicted on June 14, 2022 and sentenced to two years imprisonment.
With NAN report
