The Defendant When He Was Arrested
A cargo agent, Sodehinde Akinwale, was today, remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services, Ikoyi, Lagos Section, over his role in attempting to smuggle 21.30 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, outside the country.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro, gave the remand order against the 42 years old man, after he pleaded not guilty to a count charge made against him by the NDLEA through its prosecutor, Mr. Augustine Nwagu.
The defendant, according to the prosecutor, was arrested with the banned leaves, on October 26, 2022, during the examination and outward clearance of cargo to London at SAHCO Export Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was accused of concealing the banned leaves in tomato paste cans.
The defendant, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the one count charge.
Following his not guilty plea, his lawyer, Mrs. Ekwegh Vivienne informed the court that the court that she has filed and served the prosecutor with her client’s bail application. The position which was confirmed by the prosecutor.
Upon taken arguments from counsel on the bail application, Justice Awogboro, adjourned the matter till December 20 2022, for ruling on the bail application.
Justice Awogboro also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody, pending the ruling on the bail application.
Charge against the defendant reads: “That you Sodehinde Akinwale, male, 42 years old, on or about the 26th day of October 2022 during the examination and outward clearance of cargo to London at SAHCO Export Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority exported 21.30 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug Similar to Cocaine, LSD and Heroin and thereby committed 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.”
