The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) today, arraigned three drug traffickers, Tapha Kazeem Mustapha, 45; Andrew Ukelere and Anthony Chiemerem, before a Lagos Federal High Court, for trafficking in 13.9 kilograms of tramadol and 590 Litres of Pentazocine a drug similar to Cocaine.
The three defendants were arraigned before Justice Kehinde Olayiwola Ogundare, on a two-count of conspiracy and trafficking in the prohibited substances.
Tapha and Andrew were accused of trafficking in the tramadol. While Tapha and Anthony were alleged to have dealt in the prohibited deadly liquid substance.
The NDLEA through its prosecutor, Juliana Negedu, at the arraignment the three defendants today, told the court that the defendants were arrested on March 19, 2024, on the Long Bridge axis of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos, Lagos State.
The prosecutor also told the court that the unlawful act of the defendants contravened sections 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges When it was read to them
Based on the defendants’ guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a short date, for review the facts of the charges against them.
The defendants were legally represented by Chief Lilian Omotunde and Ore-ofe Ogunleye, did not opposed the prosecutor’s application for adjournment.
Consequently, Justice Ogundare adjourned the matter to May 16, for review of facts.
The judge also order that the defendants be remanded in the NDLEA’s facility, till the adjourned date.
The Charges Against The Defendants Read: “That you Tapha Kazeem Mustapha Male 45 years and Andrew Ukelere Male 35 years on or about the 19th day of March, 2024 at Long Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court Trafficked in 13.9 Kilogrammes of Tramadol Hydrochloride a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Tapha Kazeem Mustapha Male 45 years and Anthony Chiemerem Male 20 years on or about the 19th day of March, 2024 at Long Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court Trafficked in 590 Litres of Pentazocine a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 1 (b) of the National Drug Law [Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
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