NDLEA Arraigns Man Arrested With 5 Tonnes Of Tramadol

Ezekiel Ibe, When He Was Arrested

NDLEA Arraigns Man Arrested With 5 Tonnes Of Tramadol

A 49 year-old man, Ezekiel Ibe, was today, arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for allegedly be in possession of  5, 458. 894 kilograms of Tramadol, without lawful authority, by the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

The defendant, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Jerry Aernan, was arrested on December 23, 2021, at Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, for unlawful possession of the said banned drugs.

The prosecutor told the court presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro that the offence contrary to and Punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drag Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N20 Laws of the Federation of Nigerian, 2004.

The charge against the defendant reads: “that you Ezekiel Ibe, male adult, 48 years old, on or about the 23th day of December 2021, at Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court l, without lawful authority knowingly possesed 5,458. 894 kgs of Tramadol Psychotropic substance similar to Cocaine, Heroin ard LSD and thereby cammited an offence contrary to and Punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drag Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N20 Laws of the Federation of Nigerian, 2004”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Upon defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, while also asked that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charge.

Responding to the prosecutor’s request, defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Maxwell Okpara, informed the court that he had filed his client’s bail appllication and same has been served on the prosecutor, who has equally responded.

Okpara while urging the court to grant his client bail on the liberal time, also told the court that his client is having some health challenges, which the NCoS do not have facility to handle.

Countering the bail appllication, the prosecutor, Mr. Aernan told the court that the defendant failed to file an affidavit indicating his health challenge and there was no any medical report to such.

He therefore asked the court to refuse the application.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Bogoro, after perusing the Defendant’s bail appllication and prosecutor’s counter affidavit, and cited plethoras of authorites, however admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N10 million with two sureties.

The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner either in Victoria Island or Ikoyi area of Lagos State. Adding that both the defendant and must submit two passport photographs.

The judge, while adjourning defendant’s trial till April 7 and May 9, ordered that he should be remanded in NCoS’ custody, till the perfection of the bail conditions.

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