By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The unavailability of the trial judge, Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu who is said to be outside the court’s jurisdiction for an official assignment on Wednesday stalled the continuation of trial of an alleged drug baron, Alhaji Jimoh Sulaimon Olowoidigede, a.k.a Temo.
The alleged drug baron is being prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before the court presided over by Justice Dipeolu on a six-count charge of conspiracy, trafficking 704 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud), running a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), and money laundering.
According to the NDLEA prosecutors, Mrs. Theresa Asuquo, a Director in the NDLEA and Lambert Nor, Head of Legal Department, Lagos State Command of the NDLEA, the offences contravened Sections 20(1)(g); 14(b); 18(a); 20(i); 11(b) and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges but the court is yet to rule on his bail application. Trial had commenced and so far, NDLEA has called seven witnesses.
Further trial of the drug baron has been adjourned to October 31 and November 1, 2024.
At the last trial date of the drug trafficker, a witness and operative of the anti-narcotics agency, Zofun Setonji told the court how the agency on July 22, 2024 tracked and arrested the drug baron , who is also called Godfather and 001.
While being led in evidence by the prosecutors, Setonji told the court that Jimoh’s arrest followed credible intelligence and sustained surveillance.
“I received intelligence in April 2023 about Temo’s plan to smuggle drugs into Nigeria from Ghana via the waterways” Setonji said.
“Acting on the intelligence, myself and my team laid an ambush at Eleko Beach on May 4, 2023, after confirming the movement of the drug consignment.”
He further stated that despite an initial tip-off that the NDLEA was monitoring them, the team intercepted two trucks loaded with 202 bags of marijuana weighing 8.58 tonnes.
“That after the drug seizure, I received a threatening phone call from Temo, who said, “You have the guts to seize my drugs.
“I know where you live, and I will kill you and kidnap your wife and children. And I replied, and said, before you kill me, I will arrest you.”
Following this exchange, Setonji said he received further intelligence about Temo’s whereabouts.
He said the informant told him that Temo would attend a party in Sango Ota, Ogun State.
The witness further told the court that to gain entry, he purchased a special cap, which served as an invitation, and attended the party.
“Armed with this information, I gave my informant N3,500 for the cap and on the day of the party, I went to the party with the informant.
“On getting there, the informant stood outside while I went inside to the party venue with the cap on,” the witness said.
He stated that he recognised Temo, who arrived wearing a punk hairstyle and a long necklace, as described by the informant.
According to Setonji, on July 22, 2024, during a raid in the Igbarere area of Mushin, Lagos, he and his team encountered Temo, who was in a Mercedes Benz.
He added that upon sighting the NDLEA officers, Temo attempted to flee but was arrested despite resistance and an attempted assault on the team by local hoodlums.
Another NDLEA officer, Adewole Timothy, corroborated Setonji’s testimony, stating that after receiving intelligence about Temo’s drug activities in 2023, he conducted surveillance to verify the information.
He said that on July 25, 2024, during an operation at Igbarere Street, Mushin, Temo escaped when he saw the NDLEA officers, but his driver, Sulaimon Shehu, was arrested.
“The team found and seized 18 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 252 kg from Temo’s warehouse,” Timothy said.
Under cross-examination by Temo’s counsel , Chief Benson Ndakara, Timothy disclosed that Shehu admitted in his statement that he was a close associate of Temo and that the drugs belonged to Temo.
Timothy also stated that although they did not verify the ownership of warehouse from the Land Registry, the informant confirmed that it belonged to Temo.
Another prosecution witness, NDLEA exhibit keeper Nketai Benjamin, testified that he conducted tests on the confiscated drugs, which proved positive to cannabis sativa.
Meanwhile, the test results, along with other related documents, were tendered in court as evidence and admitted as exhibits. Upon conclusion of the evidence by prosecution witnesses, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the hearing to October 15 and 16, 2024 which eventually could not go on. The case was further adjourned to October 31st and November 1st for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, Temo’s counsel Chief Ndakara had applied for bail for his client but the court is yet to rule on it.