NDLEA Arraigns Two Businessmen In Court For Importing 2.23 Kilogramme Of Cocaine Into Nigeria
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arraigned two businessmen, Mama-Solomon Ikechukwu, 27, and Emeka Mbadiwe, 33, before a Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly importing 2.23 kilogramme of Cocaine into Nigeria.
The accused persons, Ikechukwu who resides in Brazil and Mbadiwe, a Jewellery seller in South Africa, are arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of illicit drug.
Counsel to NDLEA, Vembe Emmanuel, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on August 28, 2014, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to him the accused persons conspired with one Uzoma Stanley, now at large, to unlwafully import 2.23kg of Cocaine into the country.
The lawyer also maintained that the offences contravened Sections 11 (c) and 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004 (As Amended).
The two men, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After their arraignment, counsel to the accused, Emmanuel Okenyi urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
Okenyi informed the court that the accused had been in detention for a long time and had no former criminal records.
Emmanuel opposed the application with a 10-paragraph counter-affidavit, stating that the accused persons may escape justice if granted bail.
In his ruling, Justice Saliu Saidu admitted the two men to bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Saidu also stated that one of the sureties must be a relation of the accused persons residing in Lagos and must be a property owner within jurisdiction.
The judge further held that the other surety must be a civil servant in Lagos State or with the Federal Government not below grade level 16.
In addition, Saidu said that both accused persons and sureties should present before the court two passport photographs each and that both the court and the prosecutor must be satisfied with the sureties
The court had adjourned the case to February 4, 2015, for commencement of trial.
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