Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday admitted bail to two traders who are currently standing trial for alleged drug trafficking by ordering them to pay a cash sum of N2, 000,000 each into the custody of the Deputy Registrar of Court apart from producing one surety each.
The defendants, Udeh Vincent Ogbonnna and Okonkwo Ifeanyi Uzozie and one Rufus Emeka Obi ( now at large) were last week arraigned by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, Mr Umar Hussaini before the court on a three count charge.
The defendants were arraigned on charges bothering on conspiracy and unlawful possession of 25 kilograms of Ephedrine HCL, a controlled substances.
The offence is said to be contrary to the United Nations Single Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs 1961 and its Protocol and the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances 1989,
According to the prosecution, the offence are also 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).
The defendants pleaded not guilty to same
However, when the matter came up for trial on Monday, lawyer to the defendants, Chief Benson Nakara told Justice Daniel Osiagor that he has a motion for the bail of the defendants and pleaded with the court to allow him move the application.
After moving the bail application and the prosecutor, Mr Umar Hussaini opposed it by moving his counter affidavit Justice Osiagor in his ruling granted bail to the defendants by ordering them to deposit the sum of N2m cash each into the custody of the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.
The judge also directed the defendants to produce one surety each who must be a person of means and resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
Justice Osiagor also ordered that the surety must produce evidence of three years tax payment and submit two passport photographs to the court Registry.
The three counts charge reads:
Count 1:
That you UDEH VINCENT OGBONNA, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen and you OKONKWO IFEANYI UZOEZIE, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen and one RUFUS EMEKA OBI a.k.a DIRECTOR now at large, on or about the 5 day of August, 2023 at EZENWATA TRANSPORT COMPANY PARK, Jibowu, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable court without lawful authority, conspired and possessed 25 kilograms of EPHEDERINE HCL, a controlled substances contrary to the United Nations Single Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs 1961 and its Protocol and the Convention Against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances 1989, thereby committed an offence as provided for 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).
Count 2.
That you UDEH VINCENT OGBONNA, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen and you OKONKWO IFEANY! UZOEZIE, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen and one RUFUS EMEKA OB! a.k.a DIRECTOR now at large, on or about the 5th day of August, 2023 at EZENWATA TRANSPORT COMPANY PARK, Jibowu, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable court without lawful authority, conspired and Dealt in 25 kilograms of EPHEDERINE HCL, a controlled substances contrary to the United Nations Single Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs 1961 and Its Protocol and the Convention Against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances 1989, thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Orug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30 Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 (as amended).
Count 3
That you UDEH VINCENT OGBONNA, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen and you OKONKWO IFEANYI UZOEZIE, Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen and one RUFUS EMEKA OB! a.k.a DIRECTOR now at large, on or about the 5th day of August, 2023 at EZENWATA TRANSPORT COMPANY PARK, Jibowu, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable court without lawful authority, conspired and attempts to traffics in 25 kilograms of EPHEDERINE HCL, a controlled substances contrary to the United Nations Single Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Orugs 1961 and its Protocol and the Convention Against lilicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances 1989, thereby committed an offence as provided for 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).
Meanwhile, the NDLEA had on Monday secured an interim order of attachment of money found in possession of the two alleged drug traffickers, Udeh Vincent Ogbonnna and Okonkwo Ifeanyi Samuel as well as the money in their bank accounts and that of thier associates.
The order of interim attachment of the monies was sequel to the ex-parte motion filed and argued by NDLEA’s prosecutor, Mr Umar Hussaini before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
When the case was called , Umar told Justice Osiagor that he has an ex-parte application before the court and urged the court to allow him move the application.
The ex-parte application sought for an order of interim Attachment to the ‘Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of monies in the bank accounts of first and second defendants, joint bank account of second defendant and his wife and one Rufus Emeka Obi (a.k.a Director) now at large and their companies being proceeds of illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs and psychotropic substances pending the determination of this charge.
The application also sought for an order of interim attachment to the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of three thousand US dollar ($ 3000) ( thirty pieces of one hundred dollar) discovered and seized from the first defendant during his arrest on 5th day of August, 2023 being proceeds of illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs and psychotropic substances pending the determination of this charge.
After listening to the prosecutor, Justice Osiagor granted the order for interim attachment.
The ten accounts attached are that of Udeh Vincent Ogbonnna ( UBA 2022567448), Account number 1668484274 Access Bank, Udeh Ifeanyi Uzozie 1415780077, 1665224093 and 0091098974 belonging all in Access Bank, Ifeanyi Nnaemaka Okonkwo 6318292417 Fidelity Bank, Ifeanyi Nnaemaka Okonkwo 1002705362 Access Bank, Medrel Pharm. 1262369015 FCMB, Dambro Auto Ventures Ltd 1568734787 Access Bank and Medrel Pharmaceuticals Ltd 1012108939 also in Access Bank.
