Adeshina Fasasi, a witness for the defense, testified on Thursday before the Federal High Court in Abuja that an analysis of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari’s call records showed no communication with any phone number associated with a suspected cocaine dealer, referred to as Mike Coke.
Fasasi, an employee of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, appeared in the ongoing trial of Kyari and four other suspended police officers. Led in evidence by Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, before Justice Emeka Nwite, Fasasi explained that his role in MTN’s Incident Management Unit involves handling customer disputes and law enforcement inquiries.
Subpoenaed to testify, Fasasi revealed that of the six phone numbers linked to Kyari, only one—08032866679—was registered in his name. When asked if any number saved as “Coke” appeared in Kyari’s call records, Fasasi stated, “No number associated with that name was found in the records.”
He clarified that MTN’s call data records (CDR) system captures only voice and SMS metadata, location details, and device information, not WhatsApp messages, voice recordings, or contact names saved on a device. Fasasi also noted that a number, 09136976496, identified in the CDR and linked to a contact labeled “Coke,” was registered to Ruth Ayuba, not Kyari. He added that MTN does not store or record call content, even for law enforcement requests.
During cross-examination by Joseph Sunday, counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Fasasi acknowledged that he is not a direct MTN employee but part of a managed services team recognized by the company. He also admitted he had not reviewed the entire report submitted in court and could not comment on its full contents.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case to October 22 for the continuation of the defense. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the previous hearing, the judge dismissed a no-case submission by Kyari and his co-defendants, ordering them to present their defense.
The NDLEA charged Kyari and six others in case FHC/ABJ/CR/57/2022, accusing them of involvement in a cocaine deal. The defendants include Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubia, ASP James Bawa, Inspectors Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu (1st to 5th defendants), along with Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alfonsus Ezenwanne (6th and 7th defendants). They were arraigned on March 7, 2022, on an eight-count charge involving conspiracy, obstruction, and drug trafficking related to 17.55 kilograms of cocaine and tampering with an additional 21.25 kilograms.
While the police officers pleaded not guilty, Umeibe and Ezenwanne admitted guilt to their charges, were convicted, and served two-year prison sentences. (NAN)
