By Ranmilowo Ojalumo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Tuesday, arraigned a vessel, MV Cooper Island, its owner, and 10 Crew members, before a Lagos Federal High Court, for unlawful importation of 24 kilograms of Cocaine.
The vessel crew members arraigned alongside the vessel were: Krasnoperov Oleksii, Enesa Julio (Jnr) Pedrogosa, Nonan Ulysses Doria, Torino Jhundhel Adang, Alado Elpe De Pedro, Empedrado Ryan De Jesus, Liquit Niel Morris Auxtero, Akulov Oleg, Frugalidad Francis Cabaluna and Duran Niel Stephen Dias, who are said to be Ukrainians and Estonians.
According to the prosecutor, Mrs. Josephine R. Obi, who led Mr. Ralph Himinkaiye and Abu Ibrahim, the vessel and the defendants were arrested on July 6, 2023, at Josepdam Port berthing Point, at Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants conspired among themselves to illegally transport the prohibited narcotic Drug, from the Port of Santos, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The prosecutor told the court that the alleged illegal acts of the defendants, contravened sections section 14 (b) and 20 (1)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
All the defendants denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea, their lawyers urged the court to allow the bail terms earlier granted them by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, during the court’s long vacation.
According to their lawyers, the bail terms were that each of the defendants deposited the sum of $40 000 USD, which was paid into an ‘escrow account’.
With the confirmation by the prosecutor that the money had been paid into the escrow account, the court sanctioned the terms.
Consequently, Justice Faji adjourned the defendants’ trial to January 17, 18, 13 and 24, 2024.
