NDLEA Arraigns Suspects for Drug Trafficking

Wale Igbintade

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned Mr. Osondu Christian, a Brazil-based Nigerian, Mr. Okafor Moses and three others before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos for allegedly dealing in heroin and cocaine.

Other defendants are Mr. Udeh Victor; Mr. Abanijo Isioma and Mr. Ihator Theophilus.

They five were arraigned before Justice Daniel Osiagor in two separate charges.

Osondu, Udeh, Abanijo and Ihator were arraigned on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful importation and unlawful possession of 3.2 kilograms of heroin while Okafor was separately arraigned on a two count-charge of unlawful importation and possession of 2.55 kilograms of cocaine.

Arraigning the defendants, the NDLEA Prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, told the court that Osondu and the other three defendants, allegedly committed the offence between November 4 and 5, 2021.

He told the court that Osondu conspired with one Udeh Clement, both based in South Africa to smuggle in the said hard drugs.

The prosecutor stated that Osondu was arrested during inward clearance of Air Peace flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, at the E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to him, the trio of Udeh; Abanijo and Ihator conspired with both Udeh Clement and Chinedu Oseki (both based in South Africa) to distribute the banned drug in Nigeria.

The NDLEA prosecutor further told the court that the Brazil-based Okafor, who was arrested on November 13, 2021, conspired with one Awuga, who is also based in Brazil but now at large, to unlawfully import 2.55 kilograms of cocaine.

He told the court that the offences committed were contrary to and punishable under Sections 14(b), 11(a) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea of not guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and that they should be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).

But the Defence Lawyer, Mr. Benson Ndakara, with two others, asked the court to grant the accused persons bail on the most liberal terms.

Ruling on their bail applications, Justice Osiagor, admitted them to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety each.

The judge added that the surety, who must be defendants’ relations, must have landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

The judge also ordered the defendant to always report at NDLEA’s office every three days before trial dates.

Justice Osiagor adjourned the matter till March 31, 2022, and ordered that all the defendants be remanded in NCoS’ custody till the fulfillment of their bail terms.