Kyari trial: HURIWA alleges coordinated misinformation campaign

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has accused associates of suspended Abba Kyari, suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, of orchestrating a deliberate campaign of misinformation aimed at obstructing justice in his ongoing drug trafficking trial.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Emmanuel  Onwubiko, the group’s National Coordinator,  the civil society group alleged that recent reports circulating on social media, claiming that convicted drug traffickers had implicated officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, were fabricated and intended to mislead the public.

HURIWA said its independent review of court documents and witness testimonies contradicts the viral claims, insisting that there was no evidence linking NDLEA officers to wrongdoing in the case.

According to the group, two convicted traffickers, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, explicitly denied any contact or collaboration with NDLEA officials during operations at the Enugu airport in January 2022.

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Instead, HURIWA alleged that both men stated in court that their travel details and photographs were sent directly to Kyari.

The organisation claimed that despite being under suspension at the time over a separate criminal case, Kyari reportedly deployed a team from Abuja to intercept the suspects upon their arrival.

The group further alleged that the convicts claimed they were pressured while in police custody to falsely implicate NDLEA officials, describing a widely circulated “confession video” as scripted and dictated by operatives loyal to Kyari.

HURIWA maintained that evidence already tendered in court undermines the narrative being promoted online.

It cited a video, previously presented as an exhibit, which allegedly shows Kyari handing over $61,400 to an NDLEA undercover agent, money said to be proceeds from the sale of seized cocaine.

The organisation argued that transcripts of conversations admitted in court also point to a coordinated arrangement between Kyari and suspected drug traffickers.

In one such exchange referenced by HURIWA, Kyari allegedly discussed how couriers would be identified through photographs and intercepted upon arrival.

The testimony of one of the convicts, Umeibe, was also highlighted.

He reportedly told the court that his photograph was taken by a contact linked to a drug cartel at an airport lounge in Addis Ababa before his return to Nigeria, after which he was singled out and arrested by officers upon arrival in Enugu.

HURIWA urged the judiciary to remain focused on the evidence before it and resist what it described as attempts to intimidate or discredit the prosecution through misinformation campaigns.

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The group also called on media organisations to adhere to professional standards by verifying claims against official court records before publication.

“It is a calculated attempt to distract from the weight of evidence in this case,” the statement said, warning that no amount of “digital spin” could overturn documented exhibits already before the court.

Kyari has been facing trial over allegations of involvement in drug trafficking, alongside other legal challenges, including an extradition request by the United States over separate charges.