The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, today arraigned three men in thier early 40s before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos for allegedly dealing in Cannabis Sativa, otherwise called Marijuana.
The three defendants are Ogunyomi Adebola, Tope Oluloro and Okoli Collins Ikenna
At the arraignment today, NDLEA prosecutor, Mrs Obiageli Iwuchukwu told the court that he has a two count charge pending before the court and pleaded that the court should allow the charge to be read to the defendants so that they can take thier plea.
The two count charge was subsequently read to the defendants and they all pleaded not guilty.
Following the not guilty plea of the defendant, Mr Iwuchukwu urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correction Service, NSC, pending thier trial and also to fix a date for trial.
However, counsel to the defendants, Chief Benson Ndakara, told Justice Osiagor that he has a bail application on behalf of the defendants which he said had been served on the prosecution.
He therefore, urged the court to allow him move the application.
Iwuchukwu while leaving the issue of bail at the discretion of the court, however, told Justice Osiagor that if the court is mindful of granting bail to the defendants, he urged the court to take judicial notice of the third defendants as he will be facing another trial shortly for another drug related offence.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Osiagor granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5,000,000 million each with one surety.
The judge further ruled that the surety must be a blood relations of the defendant and must deposit the tittle documents of his landed property within Lagos State with the Court Registrar while all the documents must be verified by the prosecution.
Justice Osiagor also held that the defendants must remain in the custody of the NDLEA pending the perfection of thier bail terms.
The charge against the defendants reads: That you Ogunyomi Adebola (Male), Tope Oluloro (Male) and Okoli Collins Ikenna (Male), on or about the 3rd day of November, 2024 Exported 22.7 Kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD through Sigmaster Courier Company located at No. 5, Sopeju Street. Oshodi, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and thereby comnutted an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (6) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
Count two: That you Ogunyomi Adebola (Male), Tope Olutoro (Male) and Okoli Collins Ikenna (Male), on or about the 3rd day of November, 2021, conspired amongst yourself to Export 227 Kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD through Sigmaster Courier Company located at No. 5, Sopeju Street, Oshodi, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and thereby committed an offence
