TWO of the defendants in a suit filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against Abba Kyari, the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, have been jailed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants, were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment on Tuesday after admitting to committing the drug-related charges filed against them by the NDLEA.
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Justice Emeka Nwite, who passed the judgment, said the sentence was on each of counts 5, 6 and 7 filed against the convicts by the NDLEA.
The prison terms, which commences from the day the defendants were arrested, will run concurrently.
It will be recalled that the two drug traffickers were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu by the Nigerian police and handed over to the NDLEA.
They were arraigned on March 7 alongside Kyari and four other police officers, Sunday J. Ubia, Simon Agirigba, John Nuhu and Bawa James.
Following a plea bargain agreement entered with the convicts, Umeibe and Ezenwanne are to testify as witnesses in the trial of Kyari and the other accused police officers.
As a result of the development, the judge, in the judgment, ordered the NDLEA to ensure their safety in any correctional facility of their choice.
The judge also directed the NDLEA to constantly monitor the two convicts to ensure that they do not engage in any drug related criminal activity while serving their jail term.
Justice Nwite fixed July 18, 19 and 20 for accelerated trial of Kyari and his men, as well as for hearing of their fresh bail applications.
