The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) today, arraigned a hard drug dealer, Nwudele Basil Christopher, arrested with 52.10 kilograms of Ephedrine, before a Lagos Federal High Court.

Ephedrine is a powdery substance used in producing a hard drug known as methamphetamine, drug similar to Cocaine and heroin.

The 30 years old drug dealer, who is a trader at International Trade Fair, Alaba, was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, on a count-charge of unlawful export of the banned substance.

The prosecutor, Mr. Augustine Nwagu, told the court that the defendant, commited the offence on February 1, 2023, at SAHCO Export Shed, of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the examination and clearing of cargo.
He told the court that the offence committed by the defendant, contravened section 20(1)(a) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Meanwhile, the defendant denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following the defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for trial date, while also urged the court to remand him till the determination of the charge.

Responding to the prosecutor’s request, Chief Benson Ndakara, informed the court that he had filed and served the prosecutor with his client’s bail application. The position which was confirmed by the prosecutor.

Upon taking arguments on the bail application, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned till May 12, for ruling on the application.

The judge also ordered the remand of the defendant with Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the bail application.

The charge against the defendant reads: “that you Nwudele Basil Christopher, Male, 30 years old on or about the 1st day of February, 2023 during the examination and clearing of cargo at SAHCO Export Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority exported 52.10kilogrammes of Ephedrine, a precursor chemical listed in the second schedule of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 20(1)(a) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”