* Pix source: The Nigerian Voice
Three Nigerians and a Ghanaian national were on Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on three counts criminal charge of importing 3,525 kilogrammes of Marijuana (otherwise known as cannabis sativa) into the country.
According to the three counts charge filed and argued by Mr Aliyu Abubakar, a prosecuting counsel wth the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Adeboe Nana Shelter, Falilat Sodiq, Mary Samuel Ige and Kazeem Alabi Ayinde, who is currently at large and has been declared wanted by the anti-narcotic agency were said to have committed the offence sometimes in May 2017.
The defendants who were arraigned before Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos pleaded not guilty to the thee count charge.
Consequent upon thier not guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Mr Aliyu Abubakar asked that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.
However, the defendants’ counsel Mr Gabriel Okaka, told the court that he has a bail application for the defendants, which he intends to move.
Okaka while moving the bail application pleaded with the court to grant bail to his clients in liberal terms, submitted that the offence alleged to have been committed are ordinarily bailable offences.
Okaka further submitted that his clents are ready to produce substantial sureties, who would take them on bail, adding that bail is at the discretion of the court.
In opposing the bail application, prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Abubakar, while admitting that bail is at the discretion of the court, urged the court to ensure that such bail conditions should ensure that the defendants would come back to face their trial.
He also drew the attention of the court to the fact that the fouth defendant is on the run.
Meanwhile, Justice Abdulazeez Anka has adjourned ruling on the bail application to August 21, 2017.
Count one of the charge as contained in the charge sheet reads, “that you Adeboe Nana Shelter, male adult, Ghanian, of Hojoe Village, Bohome, Volter Region Ghana and Kazeem Alabi Ayinde of number 87 Bamgbose Street, Lagos on or about the 23rd day of May, 2017,conspire among yourselves to import 3,525 kilogrammes of Marijuana (otherwise known as canabis sativa) a narcotics drug similar to cocaine, heroin, LSD from Ghana to Nigeria through Seme border, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, by which act you 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.”
Count two of the charge states that, “You Adeboe Nana Shelter on the same date and time at Ashipa area Seme in Badagry Local Government area of Lagos State without lawful authority imported 3,525 kilogrammes of Marijuana by which act you committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.”
The third count alleged that ” You Falilat Sodiq female and Mary Samuel Ige both adult, Nigerian of Ashipa area of Seme , in Badagry on or 23rd day of May 2017 at Ashipa area of Seme border, in Badagry Local Government of Lagos State aided one Adeboe NaNa Shelter to conceal 3,525 kilogrammes of Marijuana in a warehouse you both collectively provided an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act Cap 30 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.
