Suspected Drug Baron Docked For Drug Trafficking 10 Years After Arrest
A suspected drug baron, Olife Victor Chidi, who became evasive for 10 years, after he was arrested for alleged trafficking of 7.5 kilograms of heroin, by the operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court.
Olife was alleged to have committed the offence on May 27, 2010, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, alongside one Oke Ningo, who is said to still be at large.
Arraigning the defendant before Justice Muhammad Liman’s led court, in a charge marked FHC/L/35c/2021, the prosecutor, Mr. Oigoga Ichakpa, told the court that the suspected drug baron, became ‘fugitive’, after he was granted administrative bail by his agency.
Ichakpa further told the court that it took the agency’s extra efforts in ‘fishing him out’ of his hiding place.
The suspct is facing a two-count charge of Unlawful dealing in 7.5 kilograms of heroine, a banned narcotic.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Ichakpa are contrary to and punishable under sections 14 (b) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendant, however, denied the offences but did not deny the allegation of being evasive after his arrest.
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand him till the determination of the charge, while also asked the court for a trial date.
Responding, the defendant’s counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, while told the court that he is not oppose the trial date, however said he has filed his client’s bail application and same has been served on the prosecution.
Following Chief Ndakara’s submission, Justice Liman ordered both parties to argue the application.
Upon listened to both parties, Justice Liman held that granting bail to a defendant, is at the court discretion, especially, when the charge against the defendant is a bailable one.
Consequently, Justice Liman admitted that the defendant to bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties, who must be landed property owners within the court jurisdiction.
The judge while adjourning the matter till April 14, for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the fulfilment of the bail terms.
