The trial of a Kaduna based lady pharmacist, Ikwebe Orie Hellen continued before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court Lagos today with the 4th prosecution witness, Mr Gabriel Oluwaseun Oladapo giving evidence before the court as to how he investigated the defendant over alleged conspiracy, illegal procurement and unlawful transportation of controlled pharmaceutical product, Pentazocine Injection 30mg, a Narcotic Analgesic similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has arraigned Ikwebe Orie Hellen on a two counts of procuring one Agadi Sunday to transport the controlled pharmaceutical product without appropriate or valid licence .
At the resumed hearing of the trial before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu today, the prosecutor Mr Abu Ibrahim told the that court that the prosecution is ready to proceed with the trial and the fourth prosecution witness, Gabriel Oluwasehun Oladapo was then called into the witness box.
In his testimony Oladapo told Justice Dipeolu that he knows the defendant Ikwebe Orie Hellen adding that he obtains the defendant’s statement as the Investigation Narcotic Officer, INO.
Oladapo stated that on June 1, 2023 at the Cargo Shed of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos a freight forwarder by name Agadi Sunday presented six cartons for transportation to Kaduna and that during examination of the cargo by an NDLEA officer on duty, Zaka Andrew it was discovered that the carton contains Pentazocine Injection 30mg.
The witness said Zaka then asked Agadi for the permit authorizing Agadi to transport the said drug and that Agadi presented the defendant’s annual practicing licence and the defendant’s registration as community pharmacist which were discovered to have expired.
Oladapo said the the freight forwarder was then arrested and taken to NDLEA office .
He added that on getting to the office, officers of the agency requested from Agadi the Local Purchasing Order, LPO, of the drug and that the defendant sent the name of one Rafa Specialist Hospital Kaduna and that the command consequently sent an e-mail to the address to verify the authenticity of the LPO.
The witness added that curiously while the agency was still awaiting response from the hospital, the defendant sent another e-mail which gave an instant reply to the agency’s request.
Oladapo said the quick response of the alternative email aroused suspicion and NDLEA then sent an officer to the hospital in Kaduna to make enquiry physically and that the hospital in their response while admitting that the defendant was their staff, however denied that the LPO was from them and that the alternative e-mail was that of the defendant’s son.
The witness added that on the 8th of June 2023 the six cartons was airlifted from Lagos to Kaduna and that when the defendant came to collect same she was consequently arrested and brought to Lagos at later date wherein she made statement in the presence of her lawyer.
The witness was later made to identify some exhibits earlier tendered and admitted in evidence.
The two counts charge against the defendant reads:
Charge 1
That you Ikwebe Orie Helen, Female, Adult on or about the 1st June, 2023 procured one Agadi Sunday, to transport 51.10kilograms of Pentazocine Injection 30mg, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin from Matven Medics International Ltd, a Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos to Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport, Ikeja-Lagos en-route Kaduna, Kaduna State and you thereby committed an act contrary to section 21 (2) (d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the said Act.
Count I1
That you Ikwebe Orie Helen, Adult on or about the first day of June, 2023 transports 51.10kilograms of Pentazocine Injection 30mg, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cacaine, LSD, Heroin from Malven Medics International Ltd, a ‘ Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos, Lagos to Kaduna, Kaduna State and you thereby committed an act contrary to section 20 (1) (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) of the said Act. .
