The scheduled trial of alleged two drug traffickers, Mordi Chukwuemeka Samuel and Oshilaja Bukola, before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Lagos Federal High Court, on Friday, was stalled due to the absence of their lawyer.
The two defendants were first arraigned before the court on July 17, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a two count-charge of conspiracy and unlawful exportation 900 grams of Cannabis Sativa, also known as Marijuana.
The prosecutor, Mr. Augustine Nwagu, had told the court that the two drug traffickers, were arrested in April this year, during the examination and clearing of cargo for export to Nairobi, Kenya at NAHCO Export Shed, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He also told the court that they conspired with the dou of Tunde and Jide, whose surnames were unknown, to illegally export the banned substance to Nairobi, Kenya capital.
He told the court that the defendants’ act contravened sections 14(b) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The defendants had however pleaded not guilty to the charges, and admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety each.
At the continued trial of the defendants on Friday, while the prosecutor, Mr. Nwagu present and informed the court that the witness he intend to call was on official assignment. Lawyer to the defendants was said to be indisposed.
Barrister Oke Prosper, who stood in for the lawyer, told the court that the defendants’ counsel had an emergency call, hence, he was unable to be in court.
Consequently, the court adjourned the matter till December 14, for continuation of trial of the defendants.
Charges against the defendants read: “that you Mordi Chukwuemeka Samuel, male, 39 years old; Oshilaja Bukola, female, 38 years old, sometime in April 2023, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired with Mr. Tunde (now at large) and Mr. Jide (now at law) to export 900 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin, LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Mordi Chukwuemeka Samuel, male, 39 years old; Oshilaja Bukola, female, 38 years old on or about the 29th day of April 2023, during the examination and clearing of cargo for export to Nairobi, Kenya at NAHCO Export Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority exported 900 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin or LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
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