Man Paid N1.5m To Smuggle Cocaine To Nigeria

Man Paid N1.5m To Smuggle Cocaine To Nigeria

A Brazilian returnee, Okoewo Ikechukwu, has been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for allegedly smuggling 48 grams of Cocaine from Brazil to Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia capital, for the sum of N1.5 million.

The 43 years old Brazil returnee, was arraigned today, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on a two count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the said prohibited drug.

The prosecutor, Julian Imabong-Iroabuchi, while arraigning the defendant today, in a charge numbered FHC/L/105c/2022, said he was arrested on January 17, 2022, at the ‘E’ Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airways flight from Brazil through Addis—Ababa to Lagos, with the drug which he Ingested.

The prosecutor further told the court that the defendant conspired with an alleged drug baron, Obi Nonso, domiciled in Brazil to commit the alleged illicit act.

She told the court that the defendant, received the sum of N1.5 million, for the service rendered through sister’s Access Bank Account Number: 0024517899, the very account you uses to concealed your illicit drug proceed bearing the name Oko Emilia Chioma, your sister’s name, in order to evade detection by Law Enforcement Officers

The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendant is contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) and 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N 30 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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

But Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Uche Okoronkwo of Minerva Legal, informed the court that his client’s bail appllication has been filed and same has been served on the prosecutor.

Uche pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms and conditions.

Justice Aneke upon taken arguments on the bail application, adjourned till March 16, to rule on the bail application.

Justice Aneke however ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the ruling on the bail application.

The Charges Against The Defendant Reads: “that you OKOEWO IKECHUKWU, male, Adult 43 years old, a citizen of Nigeria and one OBI NONSO, male Adult, your business partner and notorious drug baron who resides in Brazil (now at large) on or about the 17th day of January, 2022 at the ‘E’ Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airways flight from Brazil through Addis—Ababa to Lagos Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and without lawful authority imported 48grams of cocaine which you concealed by ingestion, which you swallowed and excreted same in two excretion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N 30 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2064.

“That you OKOEWO IKECHUKWU, male, Adult 43 years, a citizen of Nigeria and one OBI NONSO, male, Adult, your business partner and notorious drug baron who resides in Brazil (now at large) on or about the 17th day of January: 2022 during the inward clearance of Passengers on Ethiopian Airways flight from Brazil through Addis-Ababa to La80SNigeria at the ‘E’ Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court and without lawful authority did conspire among yourselves to import 48 Grams of Cocaine from Brazil to Lagos Nigeria and another part of the hard drug which you concealed inside a travelling bag containing foodstuff and clothes and agreed to deliver same at Addis Ababa, after you received the sum of one Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,500,000) only from him, which he paid into your sister’s Access Bank Account Number: 0024517899, the very account you uses to concealed your illicit drug proceed bearing the name OKO EMILIA CHIOMA, your sister’s name, other than your real name, to evade detection by Law Enforcement Officers and which you confirmed the payment into this account before embarking on your trip to Addis — Ababa from Brazil to Lagos Nigeria, which you also deliver part of the said hard drugs to another of your business partner at Addis Ababa which you refused to mentioned his name before you proceeded your trip to Lagos, Nigeria and you thereby 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.”