Justice Alexander Owoeye of a Federal High Court, Lagos, remanded a Self-acclaimed Property Developer, Mbaeri Okechukwu Emmanuel, for allegedly trafficking in 18.70 Kilogrames of cocaine.
Justice Owoeye made the remand order, after the alleged drug trafficker pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful importation of the prohibited drug, by the Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday.
The NDLEA prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, had to the court that the alleged drug trafficker was arrested with the drug, on October 29, 2024, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja-Lagos.
He was said to have hid the drug in the lavatory of Ethiopian Airline Flight ET 901, which he boarded from Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, to Nigeria.
The court was told that upon diligent investigation, it was discovered that he the one that smuggled the drug, hence he was arrested.
However, upon the reading of the charge, the alleged drug trafficker pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on his plea, the prosecutor asked for trial date, while also urged the court to remand him in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending trial.
But his lawyer, Chris Obiaka, however moved his bail application, which was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor.
Based on the submissions of the prosecutor and defendant’s lawyer, Justice Owoeye ordered that the defendant be remanded till February 4, when ruling will be delivered on the bail application.
The judge also adjourned till May 5, for the defendant’s trial.
The charge against the defendant reads: “That you Mbaeri Okechukwu Emmanuel male, adult on or about the 29th October 2024 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority imported 18.70 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug, aboard Ethiopian Airline Flight ET 901 from Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 20(1)(a) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
