Court Strikes Out Key Defence Witness Evidence In Abba Kyari’s Drug Trafficking Trial After Repeated Absence
ABUJA, NIGERIA — A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the evidence of John Nwonke, the second defence witness (DW2) in the ongoing drug trafficking trial of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, and four other police officers.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, dismissed the testimony on Wednesday following Nwonke’s persistent failure to appear in court for cross-examination by the prosecution.
The decision came after multiple warnings from the court.
During previous sessions, Justice Nwite had explicitly cautioned the defence team that the witness’s evidence would be expunged from the court records if he failed to make himself available.
Despite these warnings, Nwonke remained absent when the case was called, forcing the court to take decisive action.
Abba Kyari, the former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), is facing trial alongside four of his former subordinates—ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba, and Inspector John Nuhu.
They were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on charges bordering on conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in 17.55 kilograms of cocaine.
With Nwonke’s testimony completely struck out, the defence team faces a tactical setback as they attempt to clear the suspended police chief and his co-defendants of the high-profile drug charges.
