By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A 41- year old man, Udechukwu Ekene Theophilus has been docked before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on a two counts charge by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged conspiracy and trafficking in 1.279 Kilograms of Cocaine.
The drug trafficker who allegedly ingested the prohibited substance from Brazil, was docked before Justice Akintayo Aluko.
During the arraignment of the defendant, NDLEA prosecutor Augustine Nwagu told the court that the defendant was arrested with the prohibited drug, on January 21, 2024, during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight from Brazil via Addis Ababa at the “D” Arrival Hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to Mr Nwagu, the alleged drug trafficker, committed the act alongside one Mr. Kingsley, who is said to be now at large.
According to the charge preferred against the defendant, his actions is contrary to Sections 11(a) and 14(b)of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
After listening to the charge preferred against him, the defendant, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Upon his not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till determination of the charge. He equally asked for a trial date.
But counsel to the defendant Chief Benson Ndakara, told the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and same has been served on the prosecutor, who has equally responded by filing a counter affidavit to the bail application.
Upon taking counsel’s submissions on the bail application, Justice Aluko, after citing plethora of legal authorities, admitted the alleged drug trafficker to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.
Justice Aluko also ruled that the surety could be a Civil servant not below Grade Level 14, either in the employment of Federal or Lagos State government, or a landed property owner with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within the court’s jurisdiction.
The judge also ordered that the surety must present to court, means of livelihood, two passports photograph, and that the alleged drug trafficker should deposit his international passport to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR). The judge added that the verification of the bail conditions must be done by the prosecutor and the court’s DCR.
While adjourning the matter to July 2, 2024, for hearing, Justice Aluko ordered that the alleged drug trafficker be remanded in the Ikoyi custody of the NCoS, till when he is able to meet the bail terms.
Charges Against the alleged drug trafficker reads: “That you Udechukwu Ekene Theophilus, male, 41 years old, on or about the 21st day of January 2024 during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight from Brazil via Addis Ababa at the “D” Arrival Hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority imported 1.279 Kilograms of Cocaine by ingestion 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.
“That you, Udechukwu Ekene Theophilus, male, 41 years in the month of January 2024 conspired with one Mr. Kingsley (now at large) to import 1.279 Kilograms of Cocaine 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.”