The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned 38 year-old man, Nwogu Samuel Ugochukwu, before a Lagos Federal High Court, for attempting to snuggle 1.10kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
NDLEA through its prosecutor, Barrister Augustine Nwagu, told the court presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor, on Tuesday, that the defendant was arrested on September 9, 2022, with the prohibited weed, during the examination and clearing of cargo for Emirate Airline flight to Dubai at NAHCO Export Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant’s alleged criminal act, contravened section 11(b) of National Drug Law Enforcement Act Cap N30 of Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The defendant denied the charge and pleaded not guilty.
Following his not guilty plea, Justice Osiagor, ordered his counsel, Dennis Warri, to move his bail application, which was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor, on the ground that the defendant, if granted bail, may not turn up for trial.
But Justice Osiagor, after listening to both counsel, and citing plethoras of authorites, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1 million with one surety.
The surety, according to the judge, must be a Civil Servant not below Grade Level 14, who must be residing within the Court’s jurisdisction.
The judge said that the bail terms must be verified by the court’s Registrar. He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the perfection of the bail terms.
The charge against the defendant reads: “that you Nwogu Samuel Ugochukwu, male, 38 years old; on or about the 9th day of September, 2022 during the examination and clearing of cargo for Emirate Airline flight to Dubai at NAHCO Export Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority exported 1.10 kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin or LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and and punishable under section 11(b) of National Drug Law Enforcement Act Cap N30 of Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
