By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will on September 25, arraign a vessel, MV Cooper Island and her 11 Crew members, for unlawful importation of 24 kilograms of Cocaine, before a Lagos Federal High Court, Lagos.
The court presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko, fixed the date sequel to the agreement of NDLEA counsel Mr. Abu Ibrahim and counsel to the vessel and her crew, Mr. Olatunde Adejuyigbe (SAN).
The 11 crew members to be arraigned alongside the vessel are: Krasnoperov Oleksi, the Master of the vessel; Enesa Julio (Jnr) Pedrogosa; Nonan Ulysses Doria; Duran Niel Stephen Dias; Frugalidad Francis Cabaluna; Akulov Oleg; Emano Marlon Acut; Alado Elpe De Pedro; Empedrado Ryan De Jesus; Liquit Niel and Morris Auxtero.
The vessel with her 22 crew members were arrested by the NDLEA operatives on July 6, 2023, at Tin Can Island Seaport, Lagos.
They were alleged to have smuggled the banned substance in bulk of sugar imported from Brazil to Nigeria.
Upon the arrest, the anti-narcotic agency, through its counsel Abu Ibrahim had approached the court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, on July 28, with an Ex-parte motion, for an order to detain them pending the conclusion and their prosecution.
In granting the order, Justice Oweibo, held that the defendants be remanded till August 17, for report of investigation.
Other crew members who were exonerated by the NDLEA at the conclusion of investigation were: Sarmiento Neco Manalo; (10) Pantukan Michael Constatino; Guion Aguinaldo Villas; Torino Jhundhel Adang; Tupas Risan Jub Sola; Valencia Ceaser Jr. Carbagon; Peralta Jestoni Dalida; Teljona Elvis Urag; Loreno Regino Jr. Salaum and Adelanter Louie Luis Lapascau, listed as nine to 12 and 17 to 22 defendants in the proposed charged filed against them.
However, while the order to remand all the defendants, was still subsisting, their counsel, Mr. Olatunde Adejuyigbe (SAN), approached the court for the order to be discharged, but the application was vehemently opposed by the NDLEA.
When the matter which was slated for the arraignment of the vessel and her culpable crews was called up, NDLEA counsel told the court that the agency just recently contacted with the representatives of the vessel, MV Cooper Island, submitting that they promised to send their official down to the country, to represent the vessel in the criminal charge.
The NDLEA counsel, thereafter asked the court for a short date, so that the vessel and her crew could take their plea on the pending charges against them.
With Abu’s submissions, counsel to the vessel and her crew, Mr. Adejuyigbe (SAN) who had earlier urged court to discharge the Ex-parte order granted by Justice Oweibo, acceded to NDLEA counsel’s request for adjournment.
Consequently, Justice Aluko, adjourned the matter to September 25, for the defendants’ arraignment.