A South Africa returnee, Nnakeanyi Chukwuka King, was today, arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged smuggling of 9.70 kilograms of Cocaine into Nigeria from South Africa.
The defendant was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before the court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, on a two-count charge of Conspiracy and illegal importation of the said illicit drug.
The prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, who stood in for Mr. Augustine Nwagu, told the court that the defendant, who was arrested with the illicit drug on March 7, 2022, during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight from Brazil through Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia at E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, conspired with one Onyenka, said to be at large, to commit the act.
Abu told the court that the offences committed by the defendant, contravened Sections 14 (b) and 11(a) of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the.
With the not guilty plea of the defendnt, prosecutor, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date as well as the remand of the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional service.
However, Mrs. Vivian Ekwegh, Counsel to the defendant, informed the court of her client’s bail appllication, which she said has been served on the prosecution.
Justice Oweibo after taken arguments on the application, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till April 5, when his bail appllication will be ruled on.
The Charge Against the defendant Reads: “That you Nnakeanyi Chukwuka King, Male, Adult, on or about the 7th of March, 2022 conspired with one Onyeka (at large) to import 9.70 kilograms of Cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14 (b) of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count two reads:
“That you Nnakeanyi Chukwuka King, Male, Adult, on or about the 7th of March, 2022 during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight from Brazil via Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia at E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority imported 9.70 kilograms of Cocaine and thereby committed 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.”
