An alleged drug baron, Onyekachi Chukwuma MacDonald, was today arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos for attempting to smuggle 2.05 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a banned substance to United Kingdom.
He was arraigned before Justice Daniel Osiagor on charges bordering on unlawful possession and exportation of the said substance, by men of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Arraigning the defendant, NDLEA prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant was arrested on June 7, during the examination of intending Cargoes to United Kingdom via DHL at the National Handling Company (NAHCO) Export Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos.
Abu further told the court that the defendant procured one Peter Christopher Anikan, a clearing agent to carried out the alleged criminal act.
The prosecutor told the court the offences committed by the defendant, contravened Sections 20 (1)(c) and 21(1) (e) and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to him.
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date, while also he also urged the court to remand the accuse in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charges.
In a swift response to the prosecutor’s request, defendant’s counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, told the court that he was not oppose the trial date as requested by the prosecutor, he however, told the courtthat his client’s bail application has been filed and served on the prosecutor.
Upon confirmation by the prosecutor that he has been served with the bail application and that he had equally responded to it.
The prosecutor submitted that if the court is mindful of granting bail to the defendant, such term should be one which will ensure the attendance of the defendant in court till the determination of the charge.
Justice Osiagor, upon hearing counsel submissions, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge further ordered that one of the sureties must be a Grade Level 15 officer within the Federal or Lagos State government, while the second surety must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdisction.
The judge while adjourning the matter till November 30, for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in NCoS’ custody till the perfection of the bail terms.
