One of the defendant Gupta Ravi Kuma during his arrest
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, today arraigned an Indian National Gupta Ravi Kuma and a Nigerian Ajewole Ayo Joel before a Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged conspiracy, unlawful importation of Tapentadol 200mg and 225 mg a brand of Tramadol and procurement the procurement of one Ogunlana Akeem of Akman Global Investment & Logistics (now at large), to commit the unlawful act.
According to the charge men of the NDLEA uncovered the illegal drug deal on the 11th of September 2025, during the examination of cargoes on an Ethiopian Airline flight from India to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Import Shed, a Customs Area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
At the arraignment of the two defendants today, NDLEA prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim told Justice Musa Kakaki that the prosecution has a two count charge pending before the court and pleaded with the court to order that the charge should be read so that the defendants can take their plea.
The charge was then read and the defendants pleaded not guilty to same.
Following the not-guilty plea of the defendants, Mr Abu Ibrahim asked for a trial date to review the facts of the case and an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, counsel to the defendants, Chief Benson Ndakara for first defendant and Mr Tunde Adewuyi , SAN, for second defendant told the court that they are not objecting to trial date, but stated that they have applications for the bail of the defendants.
The two defence counsel pleaded with the court to allow them move the bail application which they said was ripe for hearing having served the prosecutor and the prosecutor haven filed a counter affidavit to same.
Consequently the motions for bail was moved and the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim replied to it accordingly.
After listening to all the parties Justice Kakaki adjourned the matter till Friday 14th November 2025 for ruling on the bail application while the main trial was fixed for February 4, 2026 .
The six counts charge against the defendants reads:
That you, Gupta Ravi Kumar and Ajewole Ayo Joel, both male adults, on or about the 11th of September 2025, during the examination of cargoes on an Ethiopian Airline flight from India to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Import Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja , l Lagos, without lawful authority, imported a consignment of 811.30 kilograms of Tapentadol Super Royal 200mg, a brand of Tramadol, a narcotic analgesic similar to cocaine, LSD, and heroin, with Airway Bill No. 071-58233792, and thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
COUNT 2
That you, Gupta Ravi Kumar and Ajewole Ayo Joel, both male adults, on or about the 11th of September 2025, during the examination of cargoes on an Ethiopian Airline flight from India to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Import Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, procured one Ogunlana Akeem of Akman Global Investment & Logistics (now at large), to import a consignment of 811.30 kilograms of Tapentadol Super Royal 200mg, a brand of Tramadol, a narcotic analgesic similar to cocaine, LSD, and heroin, with Airway Bill No. 071-58233792, and thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to Section 21(2)(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under Section 11(b) of the said Act.
COUNT 3
That you, Gupta Ravi Kumar and Ajewole Ayo Joel, both male adults, on or about the 11th of September 2025, during the examination of cargoes on an Ethiopian Airline flight from India to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Import Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja , Lagos, without lawful authority, imported a consignment of 779.10 kilograms of Tapentadol Royal 225mg, a brand of Tramadol, a narcotic analgesic similar to cocaine, LSD, and heroin, with Airway Bill No. 071-58233792, and thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
COUNT 4
That you, Gupta Ravi Kumar and Ajewole Ayo Joel, both male adults, on or about the 11th of September 2025, during the examination of cargoes on an Ethiopian Airline flight from India to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Import Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja , Lagos, procured one Ogunlana Akeem of Akman Global Investment & Logistics (now at large), to import a consignment of 779.10 kilograms of Tapentadol Royal 225mg, a brand of Tramadol, a narcotic analgesic similar to cocaine, LSD, and heroin, with Airway Bill No. 071-58233792, and thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to Section 21(2)(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under Section 11(b) of the said Act.
