By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has declined the bail application filed by a Brazil-based Nigerian, Christian Chinedu (m) and his Nigeria-based accomplice, Salako Omolara(f), who are alleged members of a drug cartel.
The two defendants Christian Chinedu and Salako Omolara, a widow, were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged conspiracy, unlawful export of 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and failure to declare assets. They had pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charge was read to them.
Following their plea of ‘not guilty’, the prosecution asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial while urging the court to remand the defendants to a Correctional facility.
The defence counsel Mr. Anthony Nnamoko and Dennis Warri, argued their respective application for the defendants’ bail.
Upon hearing the parties’ arguments on the bail application, the Judge adjourned till Thursday for a ruling and ordered the defendants’ remand in the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) facility.
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When the matter came up for ruling on Thursday, Justice Yellim Bogoro while ruling on the bail application, upheld the submission made by the prosecutor, saying that the applicants/defendants failed to contradict and controvert all the prosecution’s averments.
Consequently, Justice Bogoro refused their bail application and instead, ordered an accelerated hearing in the trial of the two defendants.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 18, 19 and 20, for trial.
While arraigning the two defendants, the prosecutor Juliana Imaobong-Iroabuchi told the court that the defendants were arrested on November 25, 2022, at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers to Brazil Via Doha.
According to the charge, the first defendant, Salako Omolara Fausat, and the second defendant Christian Chinedu, a Brazil-based, conspired with one Tosin Dolapo, an alleged drug baron and Head of a drug cartel, who are based in Brazil, to unlawfully export the said banned substance.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants concealed the drug in seven containers of custard powder and inside two multi-coloured sack bags.
Juliana further told the court that the second defendant, Chinedu, after his arrest, failed, refused and declined to disclose his account numbers in First Bank, UBA Bank and GTB Bank, and also deliberately refused to mention or reveal his illegal drug transaction with his co-head drug baron.
The prosecutor added that the defendant also refused to fill and sign NDLEA’s Assets Declaration Form.
Prosecutor Juliana Imaobong-Iroabuchi, submitted that the offences allegedly committed by the defendants contravened Sections 11(b) and 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap No, 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
Parts of the charge against the defendants read:“That you Salako Omolara Fausat, female, Adult, 34 years old a citizen of Nigeria and Christian Anyanwu Male, Adult, 39 years old a citizen of Nigeria, who lives in Brazil and Tosin Dolapo, Female Adult, a notorious and the head drug baron of a notorious hard drug cartel, who lives in Brazil (now at large) and one unknown woman you claim to be the one that delivered the concealed hard drug to you on the instruction of the drug baron Tosin Dolapo your childhood friend and business partner which you refuse to mention her name (now at large) on or about the 25th day of November 2022 at the gate ‘B” departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, during the outward clearance at Qatar Airways passengers to Brazil through DOHA within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and without lawful authority exported 1.40 Kilogrames of methamphetamine concealed inside two multi-coloured sack bags concealed in seven containers of custard powder and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap No, 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Christian Anyanwu, Male, Adult, 39 years old a citizen of Nigeria who lives in Brazil, a notorious and a hard drug baron and a member of a dangerous hard drug cartel and unrepentant criminal, on or about the 25th day of November, 2022 in the Joint Border Task Force of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, MMIA Special Area Command Ikeja, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly fails to make full disclosure of your asset and liabilities, after your arrest, and seizure of the 1.40 kilograms of methamphetamine which you exported from Nigeria to Brazil and you knowingly refused to disclose your First bank, UBA bank and GTB bank accounts/account numbers to NDLEA and you also deliberately refused to mention and reveal your illegal drug transaction with your co-head drug baron between you and other members of your dangerous hard drug cartel to NDLEA and you thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation f Nigeria 2004.”