Crime

Court Remands 3 Drug Smugglers

A Lagos Federal High Court, has remanded three men for their alleged unlawful dealing in combined banned hard drugs of Cocaine and methamphetamine weighing 6.123 kilograms.

The three men ordered to be remanded by the court presided over by Justice Tijjani Ringim are: Nnaeto Christian Ifeanyi; Obianika Sunday and Eze Celestine Okorie.

The three alleged drug smugglers were separately arraigned before the court by the men of the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

While Nnaeto Christian Ifeanyi, was arraigned in a charge marked  FHC/L/209c/21, of a count-charge of dealing in 1.55 kilograms of Cocaine,  Obianika Sunday, was arraigned in a charge numbered FHC/L/220c/21, of dealing in 423 of Cocaine.

The third defendant, Eze Celestine Okorie, was arraigned on a two count-charge of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in 4.15 kilograms of Methamphetamine, in a charge marked FHC/L/211c/21.

Justice Tijjani Ringim ordered that the three men be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), after they all pleaded to the charges made against them.

Arraigning the defendants, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, told the court that Nnaeto Christian Ifeanyi, was arrested with the banned suspect,on August 27, 2021, at the departure Hall of Murtala  Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, during the outward clearance of intending passengers of Turkish Airline flight to Athens, Greece.

Abu also told the court that Obianika Sunday, a resident of 13B, Ejiofor Okeke Crescent, Divine Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, was arrested on August 20, 2021 conspired with one Umu Uwulu based in London, United Kingdom to export 423 Grams of Cocaine, to London.

The prosecutor further told the court that Eze Celestine Okorie, of 7 Oluwaloni Close, Coker, Surulere, Lagos, procured one Chidi Duru, to smuggle 4.15 kilograms of Methamphetamine to United Kingdom (UK).

He told the court that the defendant was arrested on August 13, 2021, at NAHCO Export Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, during the examination of Cargoes to London, United Kingdom.

He told the court that the defendants’ offences contravened Sections 11 (b),  14 (b) and 21 (2)(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Act Cap. N30 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.

All the defendants denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea of not guilty, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu, asked the court for trial dates. He also urged the court to remand them in the custody of NCoS, pending the determination of the charges against them.

Moves by the defendants’ lawyers, who are: V. Ekwegh and Dennis Warri, to persuade the judge to hear their clients bail applications, did not succeed, as Justice Ringim told them that he would not be able to rule on the bail applications, due to few days to end the Court’s annual vacation.

Consequently, Justice Ringim, ordered that the three defendants be remanded in the NCoS’ custody, pending when their case file will be re-assigned to by the Administrative Judge and their bail applications will be heard and determined.

editor

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