The Lagos Federal High Court, today, acceded to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) request to further detain alleged drug baron , Abudallah Kazeem Muhammad a.k.a Kazeem Afolabi Babalola, popularly called Adekaz, in its custody, for another period of 15 days.
Justice Daniel Osiagor, extended the remand order consequent upon an Exparte motion filed and argued by the NDLEA lawyer, Mr. Abu Ibrahim.
In urging the court to extend the remand order, Barrister Abu told the court that the request is pursuant to sections 35(1)(c), (4), (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 3 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; Order 26 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the court’s inherent Jurisdiction.
Barrister Abu also told the court that the grounds for the orders sought for was for the purpose of a detailed investigation and that the investigations to be embarked upon by the NDLEA will take a prolonged time outside the constitutional period of detention of the suspect as the NDLEA will need to extend it’s investigations to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He further told the court that the respondent was declared wanted by the court in the case of the allegation against him and in connection with the seizure of 900 grams of Cocaine from an alleged drug courier, Bolujoko Muyiwa Babalola, and he is reasonably believed to be involved in drug trafficking and Money Laundering of drug proceeds.
Justice Osiagor after listening to the NDLEA lawyer, and citing section 35(c) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution and Section 296(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, ordered the NDLEA to remand the respondent in its custody for another 15 days.
In a related development, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered the remand of one Darlinton Chisom Oketum, till the conclusion of investigation and prosecution on money laundering allegations.
The suspect was accused of laundering the sum of N5 million, for a Pakistani drug courier, Asif Muhammed, who was recently arrested with 8 kilograms of Cocaine.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted her remand order, while granting ex-parte motion filed and argued by Barrister Abu Ibrahim, a lawyer in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Abu told the court that the order sought for was pursuant to sections 35(1)(c), (4), (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 3 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; Order 26 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the court’s Inherent Jurisdiction.
The NDLEA lawyer while moving the Exparte motion told the court that the grounds for application was to enable the agency Keep the suspect in detention for the purpose(s) of a detailed investigation, as the applicant will need to extend her investigations to the suspect’s place of residence at Umuahia, Abia State.
He also told the court that his agency will need prolonged time outside the prescribed constitutional period of detention of the suspect as the investigations to be embarked upon will require up to 30 days in the first instance as it has some international aspects.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after hearing the NDLEA lawyer, granted the application to remand her till the conclusion of investigation and prosecution.
