Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of a Federal High Court, Lagos, today ordered the remand of a Customs Officer, Ugwoke Emmanuel, who was arrested by the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for dealing in narcotic, till September 28, when his bail application will be decided.
Justice Shagari ordered the remand of the Customs Officer, after he was arraigned before her court on two counts charge of unlawful dealing and transporting 394 kilograms of the banned Cannabis Sativa popularly called Marijuana worth N8 million.
The accused, a resident of 25, Bale-Oko in Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos, was alleged by the NDLEA to have on May 14, 2017, Gbaji Customs check point, along Seme-Badagry road, knowingly possessed and transported the said prohibited ‘weed’ in a vehicle belonging to Nigeria Customs Services.
The accused is currently serving at the Seme Border Post of Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) was said to have conveyed the said ‘weed’ in a Toyota Hilux vehicle marked CSO 59 A1, belonging to the Services.
The offences according to the Prosecutor, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar, are contrary to sections 19 and 20(1)(a) and punishable under section 20(2) of the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
* Accused Customs Officer,Ugwoke Emmanuel
The accused however pleaded not guilty.
Following his not guilty plea, the Prosecutor, Mr. Abubakar, urged the court for a trial date, while also urged the court to remand him in Prison’s custody pending trial.
But his lawyers, Chief Benson Ndakara and Viviane Ekwegh, pleaded with the court to admit bail to their client in liberal term.
The accused lawyers told the court that they have filed his motion for bail and such have been served on the prosecutor, who had equally responded.
They particularly informed the court their client is a serving Customs Officer attached to Seme Border Post of the Nigeria Customs Services.
But the presiding judge, Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari, while adjourned the matter till September 28, for ruling on the accused bail application, ordered that he be remanded in Prison’s custody.
