Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court Lagos today granted bail to a 61 year-old alleged Lady drug trafficker Fayisare Ajoke Opaleye in the sum of N50 million and three sureties in like sum.
Justice Kakaki held that one of the three sureties must be a civil servant of not less than grade level 16 in the service of the Lagos state or Federal Government and must not be currently standing surety for any person in other cases.
The judge further ruled that the other sureties must be landed property owners within Ikoyi, Lagos with clear proof of ownership while officials of the Lagos State Land Registry and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, are to verify the tittle documents of the properties.
In addition, the defendant is to deposit her international passport, while the sureties must deposit two passport photographs each with evidence of three years tax payment.
The defendant Fayisare Ajoke Opaleye and one Abideen Adio were last month arranged before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court on three counts charge of trafficking in 1,540 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa filed by NDLEA prosecutor, Mr B.S. Abdullahi .
However when they were arraigned they both pleaded not guilty to the charge while the bail applications filed and argued on their behalf by their lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara were refused by the court.
Consequently, Justice Kakaki ordered accelerated trial of the case while the defendants were ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre.
However, counsel to the defendants Chief Benson Ndakara last week, again, brought another bail application on behalf of the first defendant on the ground of ill health and the motion was argued while the Prosecutor, Mr. B.S. Abdullahi vehemently opposed it.
In opposition to the motion for bail, Mr B.S. Abdullahi told Justice Kakaki that in the event that the court is inclined to grant bail to the defendant, he urged the court to impose conditions that will make the defendant attend to her trial.
Justice Kakaki after listening to parties adjourned ruling on the motion for bail till today.
The charge against the defendants read:
COUNT 1
That you FAYISARE AJOKE OPALEYE, Female, 61 years old and ABIDEEN ADIO, Male, 41 years old on or about the 31st day of December, 2024 at Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired and transported (otherwise trafficked) within Lagos State 1,540 kilograms of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Orug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Among
COUNT 2
That you FAYISARE AJOKE OPALEYE, Female, 61 years old on or about the 31st of December, 2024 at No. 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, along Ago Palace Road, Okota, ‘Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority knowingly possessed 1,540 kilograms of cannabis Sativa a narcotic drug and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of the Federation.
That you ABIDEEN ADIO, Male, 41 years old on or about the 31st day of December, 2024 ‘ at Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority transported (otherwise known as trafficked) 1,540 kilograms of cannabis sativa a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 .
