By Paul Joseph
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) request to close the evidence of the second defence witness in the ongoing cocaine trial involving suspended DCP Abba Kyari and four other police officers.
The court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, on Monday adjourned proceedings until October 7 to enable the defence witness, Inspector John Nwoke, to continue his testimony and undergo cross-examination.
Justice Nwite, however, warned that Nwoke’s evidence would be closed if he failed to appear in court on the next adjourned date.
The NDLEA had asked the court to foreclose the witness’s evidence after he failed to appear for cross-examination, with the defence attributing his absence to ill-health.
The prosecution had argued that the medical letter presented by the defence did not adequately disclose the nature of Nwoke’s illness or provide sufficient grounds for another adjournment.
The agency further accused the defence of disregarding an earlier court directive requiring the witness to appear, warning that repeated delays could frustrate the criminal proceedings.
But defence counsel, Julius Mba, told the court that Nwoke had notified the court of his health condition and that the defence remained ready to proceed with the witness’s testimony once he recovered.
Mba also informed the court that the defence had secured a subpoena directing the NDLEA to produce records of its personnel who were on duty at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on January 19, 2022.
Kyari and the other police officers are being prosecuted over allegations that they tampered with cocaine recovered from two convicted drug traffickers at the Enugu airport.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The two drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
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