Court Remands Businessman Over Illegal Exportation Of Tramadol

A businessman, Obazee Timothy Eguagie, has been remanded at the Ikoyi centre of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) for alleged unlawful exportation of a high quantity of tramadol, by a Lagos Federal High Court.

Justice Akintayo Aluko who presided over the court, ordered that the alleged hard drug merchant be remanded till June 22, when the prosecution will review the facts of the charges against him and his sentence by the court.

The alleged drug dealer, had pleaded guilty to a four count-charge of unlawful possession and attempt to illegally export series of the banned drug, made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant was arrested on February 23, 2023, at the Gate ‘B’ Departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos during the outward clearance of Turkish Airline Flight from Lagos to Milan, Italy via Istanbul, Pakistan.

The prosecutor listed the series of tramadol that the defendant was arrested with, which includes 10.60kilograms of Tramadol 225mg; 600Grams of Tramadol 200mg; 800Grams of Tramadol 100mg and 19 Grams of Rohypnol 1mg.

Abu told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened Sections 20 (1) (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 20 (2) (c) of the of the said Act.

However, the defendant admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges.

Following the defendants’ plea of guilty, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu, asked the court for trial date, to review the facts of the charges.

Abu told the court that he while also urged the court to remand the defendant till the determination of the offences against him.

But lawyer to the defendant, Mr. Charles O, however urged the court to compel the prosecutor to review the facts of matter, since his client had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Responding, the prosecutor told the court to discountenance the counsel’s submissions, on the ground that the matter was only slated for plea.

The court also acceded to the prosecutor’s submissions, and held that the matter was slated for plea of the defendant.

Consequently, Justice Aluko, adjourned till June 22, for ruling, for review of the facts of the matter, while also ordered that defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi centre on the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).