Alleged Drug Deal: Court Fixes Apr. 22 For Judgment On Extradition Of Lati Alagbada To USA
A Federal High Court, Lagos, Thursday, fixed April 22, 2020, for judgement in a suit seeking the extradition of foremost music producer, Alagbada Lateef, popularly called Lati Alagbada, to Unites State of America (USA) to answer drug-related charges.
Alagbada a music promoter who promoted Late Fuji Maestro, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and many others.
The court presided over by Justice Sule Hassan, fixed the April 22, for judgment, after taking argument from AGF’s counsel, Mr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, a Chief State Counsel, International Cooperation Department and Dr. Babatunde Oni, counsel to Alagbada Lateef.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had filed a suit marked FHC/L/CS/2212/19, seeking an order of the court to extradite the music producer, Alagbada, to the USA to face two counts charge of conspiracy to distribute, possess and importation of one kilogram of heroin.
Moving the application for Alagbada’s extradition, today, Mr. Akutah, told that the application is dated and filed on November 29, 2019 with three paragraphs affidavit and a written address.
He particularly told the court to considered exhibit ‘B’, a Certified True Copy (CTC) of warrant of arrest of Alagbada Lateef, case No. 17-CR-227-JMV, dated and issued on June 15, 2017, by a United State’s District Court of New Jersey.
He also told the court to discountenance one of the exhibits in Alagbada’s counter-affidavit to the AGF’s extradition application, a newspaper publication, on the ground that the language which the newspaper was published was unknown to the court.
He urged the court to grant the application and order the extradition of Alagbada to USA to face the charge pending against him.
Responding, Alagbada’s counsel, Dr. Oni, urged the court to strike out the application for lacking in merit.
Oni told the Court that not to discountenance the application on the ground that the Saudi Arabia government had released his client after detaining him six months on the same allegations, as they could not fine any evidence of drug dealing against him.
Alagbada’s counsel told the court that in 2017, after the alleged offence was committed, his client applied for Visa to USA but was rejected, adding that if truly the American Government are looking for him, his Visa would have been granted to facility his trial in the United State.
In urging the court to discountenance the extradition application against his client, Oni told the court to hold that the newspaper publication which is marked as exhibit B.
Justice Hassan, while adjourned the matter to April 22, for judgment, also ordered that the music promoter be remanded in the custody of Nigerian’s Interpol.
