By our correspondent
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), on Friday, last week, presented a lady, Okere Adaobi Mariam and a man, Hamzat Kayode before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos for arraignment over alleged attempt to export 6.24 kilogrammes and 1.16 killogrammes of cocaine respectively.
Arraigning Okere before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim told the court that she was arrested on March 30, at NACHO Export Shed, Ikeja-Lagos, during the examination of export laden cargoes.
Abu told the court that the offence committed by the defendant is contrary to and punishable under section 11(d) of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following the defendant’s plea of not guilty the one count charge read to her, the prosecutor urged the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in prison custody pending her bail.
However, defendant’s counsel told the court that he had a bail application which had been served on the defendant, he prayed the court to allow him move the appointment.
The presiding Judge, Justice Oweibo after confirming from Abu if he had been served, granted the defence counsel prayer to move the application.
After taking arguments on the bail application, Justice Oweibo while adjourning further proceedings till May 30, 2019 for ruling on the bail application and trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
In a related development, the court on Friday, arraigned one Hamzat L. Kayode on one count charge of attempting to export 1.16 kilogrammes of cocaine to Dubai, capital of United Arab Emirate.
The defendant was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Kayode
according to the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, was arrested on March 18,
2019 at the departure Hall of the of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos
during the outward clearance of passengers on Emirates Airline to
Dubai.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Consequently,
the prosecutor, Abu asked the court for a trial date and the remand of
the defendant in prison custody pending trial.
Due to the
inability of the defendant’s counsel to file bail application, Justice
Nicholas Oweibo adjourned the matter till October 22, 2019 for trial.
