Two of Abba Kyari's co-accused plead guilty to importing cocaine into Nigeria in court

TWO of the co-defendants arraigned before a federal high court in Abuja today alongside Assistant Police Commissioner Abba Kyari on drug running charges pleaded guilty to importing 21.35kg of cocaine.

Mr Kyari and six others charged with dealing in 17.55kg of cocaine by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Today, the case was heard in court and Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, both pleaded guilty to importing cocaine into Nigeria.

Messrs Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who are charged in counts five, six and seven of the eight-count charge, pleaded guilty when the charge was read to them. However, in spite of their guilty plea, they were ordered to be remanded in the custody of the NDLEA until when the application for their bail would be heard.

In this dramatic case, the NDLEA, arraigned Mr Kyari, six police officers and two civilians on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine and other related offences. While Mr Kyari and three other defendants, who are police officers, pleaded not guilty to the charges, the two civilians, pleaded guilty to the three charges where their names featured.

Upon the plea of the defendants, Kanu Agabi, counsel to the defendants asked the court to admit his clients to bail. Trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case until next Monday to hear the bail application of the defendants and ordered that they should be remanded in the custody of the NDLEA until then.