…As suspect get N10m bail for importing 27.95Kg cocaine, bribery

A suspect, Ejiofor Felix Enwereaku, was on Monday arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for unlawful importation of 27.95 kilogrammes of cocaine, worth N8 billion.

The defendant was also arraigned for offering a bribe of $24, 500 to the agency’s operatives during his arrest.

He was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful dealing in cocaine and offering bribe to an officer of the agency.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Austine Nwagu, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 14 (b) and 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Mr. Nwagu, told the court that the defendant was arrested on May 14, 2021, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while he imported 27.95 Kilogrammes of cocaine into the country.

The defendant was alleged to have committed the offence with an Ethiopian who is said to be at large.

The prosecutor also told the court, that the defendant in a bid to evade arrest offered the sum of $24, 500 USD, as bribe to an officer of the agency.

Following the defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand him in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the charges against him.

But the defendant’s counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, applied for bail and Justice Oweibo, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N10 million with two sureties one of which must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court while the second surety must be a civil servant not below grade level 12 in the service of the federal government or Lagos State.

He added that particulars of the sureties must be verified by the prosecution.

Justice Oweibo further ruled that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the NDLEA, for a period of one week to allow him to perfect his bail conditions after which he should be moved the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

He subsequently adjourned the defendant’s trial till November 10, 2021.