A knight of Catholic Church, Sir Basil Okafor and his cousin, Edwin Okwuchukwu Izuchukwu, were today docked by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), before a Lagos Federal High Court, on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of 2. 169 kilograms of Heroin and pervertion to cause of justice.
The Catholic Church knight and his cousin, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Umar Hussaine, were arrested on March 28, 2022, at their residence, 26 Akpomule Street, Isolo-okota Area of Lagos, Lagos State.
The prosecutor told the court that the two defendants without unlawful authority, possessed, dealt and distributed the said quantity of the prohibited drug.
He also told the court that the Catholic Church knight, obstructed the Operatives of the anti-narcotic agency, and obstructed authorized officers of the NDLEA, who were on official assignment to arrest him in connection with the seized 2. 169 kilograms of Heroin, by throwing his mobile phone iPhone 7*A1661 with IMEI Numbers 3494 7108650649 containing MTN sim card (09036306438) into a toilet water closet.
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The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the two defendants, contravened Sections 14(b); 24(b); 20(1)(a) and 49 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004(As amended), and punishable under Sections 20(2)(a) and 20(2)(b) of the same Act.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty, when the charges were read to them.
Upon their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, and also asked the court to remand the in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
However, their counsel, Benson Ndakara, after informing the court that their bail applications have been filed and served on the prosecutor, asked the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal term.
Ndakara also urged the court to remand his clients at the NDLEA’s facility, pending the perfection of the bail terms.
Ruling on the counsel submissions on the bail applications, Justice Daniel Osiagor, admitted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of N2 million with one surety.
The judge also ordered that the surety must be a senior Civil Servant either in Lagos State of Federal government establishment.
The judge however ordered that the two defendants be remanded in the NDLEA’s custody, till the perfection of the bail terms, while adjourned the matter till October 5, for trial.
But their lawyer, Monzor Owoyemi, orally applied to court for his clients’ bail, which was granted. They were admitted to bail in the sum of N2 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Magistrate Sodeinde also ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to Ogun State government, means of livelihood.
The Magistrate, while adjourning to June 17, for trial ordered that the defendant be remanded in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the perfection of the bail terms.