By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos on Friday adjourned till January 25, 2024 the review of facts, conviction and sentence of a 43-year-old man , Opeolu Olanrewaju Taiwo Sherrif (a.k.a Eto) charged on two counts of conspiracy to import and importation of 145.10 kilograms of Tramadol 225mg a psychotropic substance similar to Heroin.
He had pleaded guilty during arraignment before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
When the matter was called for plea of the defendant on Friday, the prosecutor, Mr Augustine Nwagu told Justice Ibrahim Kala that he has a two counts charge pending before the court and applied that the court should direct that the charge be read so that the defendant can take his plea.
Consequently, the charge was read and the defendant, Opeolu Olanrewaju Taiwo Sherrif (a k.a Eto), pleaded guilty to the two counts charge.
After the defendant took his plea of guilty, the prosecutor Augustine Nwagu pleaded with the court for an adjournment so that he could come properly for the review of the fact as the necessary exhibits needed for the prosecution of the case are not in court for tendering.
Justice Kala while ruling on Nwagu’s application which was not objected to by the defense counsel, Mr Uche Okoronkwo adjourned the matter till January 25, 2024 for the review of facts, conviction and sentence.
The two counts against the defendant read: That you Opeolu Olanrewaju Taiwo Sherrif a.k.a Eto, male, 43 years old, sometime in October 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired with Sunny Concept, male (now at large) to import 145.10 Kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg, a psychotropic substance similar to Heroin and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count two reads: That you Opeolu Olanrewaju Taiwo Sherrif (a.k.a Eto), male, 43 years; on or about the 15th day of November 2023 at SAHCO Export Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority imported 145.10 Kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg, a psychotropic substance similar to Heroin and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
