Clandestine meth lab: NDLEA opposes defendants’ bail application, court fixes Sept. 2 for ruling
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A Vacation Judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko of Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos has fixed September 2, 2026 for ruling on the bail application filed by ten defendants comprising three Mexicans and seven Nigerians who are standing trial over alleged unlawful establishment of a Super Clandestine laboratory in a forest located at Iloti Village in Ogun State, for the purpose of preparing, processing and producing of 2,419.48 kilograms of Methamphetamine drug, a Psychotropic Substance similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.
The defendants/ applicants are: ANOCHILI INNOCENT, JUAN CARLOS MEZA TORRERO, NEMECIO MARTINEZ FELIX , JESUS LOPEZ VALLES, NWANKWO SUNDAY CHRISTIAN, EGWUONWU UCHENNA VICTOR, IGWE ABUCHI REMUJUS , IFEANYICHUKWU CHIBUIKE JOSHUA, OMONUGHWA KINGSLEY ORIKE and NWOBUM EMEKA.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had on July 10, arraigned the defendants before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. They had pleaded not guilty to the 11counts charge and were remanded in custody of the Nigeria Correctional Facility, Kirikiri, Lagos. They have been in custody since the date of their arraignment.
When the matter came up on Thursday August 20, counsel to all the defendants Chief Benson Ndakara told the court that he had applied to the vacation court to preside on the defendants’ bail application because of the urgency it required, adding that the motion for bail touches on the rights of the applicants as they are currently in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre.
Ndakara informed the court that he had served the motion on the prosecution and that the prosecution has filed their reply to the motion.
In the affidavit in support of the bail application, it was averred that the first defendant is unjustifiably being detained as no hard drug was found on him.
It was also averred that the defendants who claimed they wanted to establish a poultry, piggery. and alcoholic wine manufacturing at the alleged clandestine laboratory are presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of law.
The applicants further stated that the offence which they are said to have committed is a bailable offence and are ready to provide a reliable surety if bail is granted to them.
The defendants raised the issue of ill health, saying the health of some of them are failing and would need special medical care. They urged the court to grant their application as they are ready to provide reliable sureties.
However, counsel to NDLEA, Buhari Abdullahi Esq while vehemently opposing the bail application, told Justice Akintayo Aluko that in the ordinary sense, that there is nothing urgent to warrant the defendants invoking the vacation court to hear the application.
He added that charges had been filed at the regular court before Justice Musa Kakaki of the same Federal High Court, Lagos , defendants arraigned, pleas taken and the court has ordered an accelerated trial.
Abdullahi further stated that the prosecution has called its first witness who had given evidence in the matter.
He submitted that the anti-narcotic agency is opposed to the motion for bail as contained in its counter affidavit. Abdullahi further submitted that the defendants are flight risk, adding that granting them bail would amount to setting them free as they will definitely jump bail.
The prosecutor said three of the defendants are Mexican nationals, while the first defendant who is the financier and organiser of the syndicate are of dual citizenship Nigeria and Mexico.
On the issue of health raised by the applicants, Abdullahi said that if at all that is true, it has not been established that it was of the nature that the medical facility at the correctional centre could not take care.
The NDLEA prosecutor submitted that the present charge arose from the activities of an organised network involved in the illicit, production and trafficking of Methamphetamine and the acquisition, transportation and possession of precursor chemicals for the production of the said substance.
“That the charge involves ten (10) Defendants, comprising three (3) Mexican nationals and seven (7) Nigerian nationals, which composition demonise the international and transnational character of the criminal enterprise.
On the argument that the defendants intend to establish poultry, piggery and alcoholic wine factory at the said clandestine laboratory, the prosecutor
said investigation disclosed that the clandestine laboratory located at iloti Village, Ogun State, was owned, financed and sponsored by the 1st Defendant/Applicant and was established and equipped for the illicit production of Methamphetamine.
“Various equipment, apparatus, chemicals and materials associated with the illicit production of controlled substances were recovered from the said clandestine laboratory, including Propyl-2-Propanone, a major precursor agent for the production of Methamphetamine, and the Respondent shail rely on the relevant physical, documentary, forensic and laboratory evidence at trial”. the prosecutor stated.
Abdullahi said that he is vehemently opposing the application and then urged the court to refuse the bail application.
After listening to parties Justice Akintayo Aluko adjourned ruling on the bail application to September 2, 2026.
