By Deborah Onyofufeke
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday has convicted and sentenced two co-defendants, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, in a suit filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari, to two years imprisonment.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in the judgment said, since Umeibe and Ezenwanne had previously admitted to committing the crime preferred against them in counts 5, 6, and 7 by the NDLEA, the two co-defendants, who were mentioned as 6th and 7th defendants, “are hereby convicted accordingly.”
Justice Nwite sentenced the duo to two years’ imprisonment on each of counts 5, 6, and 7 making a total of 6yrs imprisonment
The court held that on the grounds that the 2 defendants showed remorse for the offense they are being convicted for, they shall serve the time concurrently, which would commence from the day the defendants were arrested by the NDLEA.
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However, the court stated that the defendants should forfeit their international passports in accordance with section 30 of the NDLEA Act, Cap M30, laws of the federation of Nigeria
As with the plea bargain agreement, the court granted Umeibe and Ezenwanne to testify as witnesses in kyari and the other accused police officers trial
The court ordered the NDLEA to ensure the safety of Umeibe and Ezenwanne respectively in any correctional facility of theirs while the NDLEA was ordered to constantly monitor the two defendants to make sure they do not engage in any drug related criminal activity while their jail term was been served
The two defendants, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively in the matter, it would be recall are the two alleged drug traffickers arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the Nigerian police and handed over to the NDLEA.
They had earlier pleaded guilty to five, six and seven counts preferred against them by the anti-narcotic agency.
Counsel to the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph, told Justice Emeka Nwite at the resume hearing that two motions seeking for a plea bargain in respect of Umeibe and Ezenwanne had been filed.
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Joseph said the motions, dated June 13, were filed on June 14.
Meanwhile there was no objection from the Lawyer to the two defendants, E. U. Okenyi who aligned with Joseph’s submission.
Similarly, counsel for other defendants, including Kyari,did not oppose the motions.
