By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arraigned five men before Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged Nigeria’s largest Cocaine trafficking.
They were arrested and investigated by NDLEA in connection with the haul of over two tons of Cocaine found in Solebo area of Ikorodu, Lagos, sometimes in September this year.
The defendants who are Soji Jubril Oke, Wale Akinade, Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, Kelvin Christopher Smith and Oguntolure Sunday were arraigned on 6-count charge over being in possession and trafficking the largest haul of Cocaine in the history of Nigeria.
The five defendants comprising four Nigerians and a Jamaican were alleged to have between the months of July and September 2022 at Number 6, Olukonla Crescent, Solebo Estate , Ikorodu, Lagos without lawful authority conspired to form and operate a Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) by importing 2,139.55 kilogrammes of Cocaine , a substance similar to Heroin and LSD.
When the matter was called for arraignment on Tuesday, the prosecuting counsel from the NDLEA, Mr Umar Hussain informed the trial judge that he has a six count charge pending before the court and prayed that the charge be read to the defendants for them to take their plea. The charge was instantly read to them and they pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the counts.
Following the defendants’ not guilty plea to the charge, the prosecutor Umar Hussain asked for a trial date and the remand of the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, counsel to the five defendants, Chief Benson Ndakara appearing for the first to fourth defendants and Chief Mrs Lilian Omotunde appearing for the fifth defendant told the trial judge that they have bail applications filed on behalf of the defendants, adding that same have been served on the prosecutor.
Both Ndakara and Omotunde therefore urged the court to allow them move their respective applications.
After moving the defendants’ bail applications, the reply to counter affidavit to same by the prosecutor and oral arguments by counsel to parties, Justice Peter Lifu adjourned ruling on the bail application till January 17, 2023.
He ordered that the defendants should be remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Service till the date of ruling on their bail application. He further directed the Comptroller of Ikoyi Correctional Service to ensure adequate health care services to the first and second defendants who are said to have health issues.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor Umar Hussain also moved an Exparte application for the interim forfeiture of some money found in the bank accounts of two of the defendants. The court graciously granted the application.
The money forfeited to the Federal Government in the interim, includes the sum of N12, 055,295.20 in account numbers 6322382470 and 6053775739 both in Fidelity Bank Plc belonging to Abdulwasiu Akinade and another sum of N55, 099,509.50 in account number 3023730668 domiciled with First Bank Limited belonging to Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu.
The six-count charge against the defendants reads:
“That you SOJI JUBRIL OKE, Adult, male, Nigerian citizen, WASIU AKINADE, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen, EMMANUEL ARINZE CHUKWU, Adult, Male, Nigerian Citizen, KELVIN CHRISTOPHER SMITH, Adult, Male, Jamaican National and OGUNTOLURE SUNDAY, Adult, Male Nigerian citizen and others now at large between the month of July 18th and 19th days of September 2022 at Number 6, Olukonla Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful authority, conspired to form and operate a Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) to wit: imports 2,139.55 kilograms of COCAINE, a Substance Similar to Heroin and LSD and you 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 (As amended).
“That you SOji JUBRIL OKE, Adult, male, Nigerian citizen, WASIU Akinade, Adult Male, Nigerian citizen, EMMANUEL ARINZE CHUKWU, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen, KELVIN CHRISTOPHER SMITH, Adult, Male, Jamaican National and OGUNTOLURE SUNDAY, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen,, about 18th & 19th days of September 2022 at about 2000hours, 2052hours at Number 6, Olukonla Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful authority, conspired to possess 2,139.55 kilograms (more than two (2) tons) of Cocaine, a substance similar to Heroin and LSD and you 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 (As amended).
“That you SOJI JUBRIL OKE, Adult, male, Nigerian citizen, WASIU AKINADE, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen, EMMANUEL ARINZE CHUKWU, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen, and others now at large between the month of July 18th and 19th days of September 2022 at about 2000hours and 2052hours, at Number 6, Olukonla Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful authority, engaged in the organisation, management and financing of a Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) by Importation of 2,139.55 kilograms (more than two (2) tons) of Cocaine, a substance similar to Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20 (1) (g} and punishable under Section 20 (2) (b} of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (As amended).
“That you EMMANUEL ARINZE CHUKWU, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen, on or about 18” day of September 2022 at Number 5, Eric Manuel Street Surulere, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful authority, found and arrested in possession of 2.3 kilograms of Cocaine, a substance similar to Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (As amended).
“That you SOJI JUBRIL OKE, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen, on or about 18” day of September 2022 and others at large between the month of July and 18th & 19th days of September 2022 at number 6, Olukonla Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court , without lawful authority, imported 2,139.55 kilograms ( more than two (2)tons ) of Cocaine , a substance similar to Heroin and and LSD and you 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 ( As amended).
“That you SOJI JUBRIL OKE, male, adult , Nigerian citizen, on or about 18th day of September 2022 at about 2000hours at number 6, Olukonla Crescent , Solebo Estate Ikorodu, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court , without lawful authority , found and arrested in possession of 2,139.55 kilograms ( more than two(2) tons of Cocaine , a substance similar to Heroin, LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 ( As amended ).”
