Justice Peter Lifu of a Lagos Federal High Court has remanded five alleged drug barons, arrested in Ikorodu, Lagos, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), till January 17, 2023, when their bail application will be decided.
The five alleged barons ordered to be remanded at the Ikoyi, Lagos center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) are Soji Jubril Oke, Wasiu Akinade, Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, Oguntolure Sunday and a Jamaican, Kelvin Christopher Smith.
Justice Lifu ordered their remand, after they all pleaded not guilty to six counts charge of conspiracy, unlawful importation of 2,139.55 kilograms (more than 2 tonnes) of cocaine, engaging in the organization, management and financing of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) and unlawful possession of same drug.
The five drug lords, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Umar Hussain, were arrested with the drugs between the month of July and September 18 and 19, 2022 at 6, Olukonla Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos.
The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by all the defendants are contrary to Sections 14 (b): 20 (1)(g); 11 and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (As amended) and punishable under sections 20 (2)(b) of the same Act.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date.
The prosecutor equally urged the court to remand them in the prison custody pending the determination of the charges against them.
But their counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara and Chief Liliana Omotunde, asked the court to grant their clients bail in the most liberal terms.
Ndakara particularly told his court that two of his clients, Oke and Akinade are having serious health issues.
Upon hearing counsel’s arguments on the bail application, Justice Lifu, ordered the remand of all the defendants at the Ikoyi facility of the NCOS, till January 17, 2023, when ruling will be delivered on the bail application.
The judge also ordered the head of the correctional center to furnish the court with the health reports of the sick defendants within two weeks.
