A Federal High Court, Lagos presided over by Justice Yelin Bogoro today commenced the trial of a clearing and forwarding agent, Mr Shoyoye Oluwole over alleged unlawful importation of Tapentadol (a brand of Tramadol) .
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has filed a two count charge against Shoyoye alleging that he on the 20th day of November 2024 at SAHCOL import Shed a Customs Area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority imported 120.20kilograms of Tapentadol 225mg and 81.90kilograms of Tapentadol 200mg (a brand of Tramadol) a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LDS, Heroin.
The offence committed according to the anti -narcotic agency is said to be contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the matter came up for trial today, Mr Abu Ibrahim announced his appearance for the prosecution while Bola Bolawole announces her appearance for the defendant.
In his submission, Mr Abu Ibrahim told Justice Yelin Bogoro that the business of the day is for the commencement of trial, adding that the prosecution is ready to proceed with trial as two prosecution witnesses are in court.
Counsel to the defendant Bola Bolawole in her submission said she is not oppose to the commencement of trial, she however told the court that she has a pending application for the bail of the defendant.
Justice Bogoro told the defence counsel to hold on as the bail application will be taken after the proceeding of the day.
The prosecution then invited one of his witnesses Balogun Olayinka Odunayo to the witness box to give his evidence.
Odunayo in his evidence-in – chief told the court how the Nigeria Customs Service that arrested Shoyoye with the hard drug transfered him to men of the NDLEA , how he took his statement and investigated the case.
After concluding his evidence- in -chief, the prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim tendered the defendant statements and the letter of transfer from the Nigeria Customs Service through the witness and both were admitted in evidence.
The court thereafter took the defendant’s bail application and adjourned the matter till November 7, 2025 for ruling on the bail application.
The two counts charge filed against the defendant reads:
That you Shoyoye Oluwole Male, Adult on or about the 20th day of November 2024 at SAHCOL import Shed a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority imported 120.20kilograms of Tapentadol 225mg a brand of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LDS, Heroin and thereby you committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count 2
That you Shoyoye Oluwole Male, Adult on or about the 20th November 2024 at SAHCOL Import Shed a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority imported 81.90kilograms of Tapentadol 200mg, a brand of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LDS, Heroin and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
