Court Adjourns Further Trial Of Convicted Drug Baron On Money Laundering To July 9,11
A Lagos Federal High Court, has adjourned the trial of a convicted drug baron, Steve Adigwe, also known as Isioma Obobo, who is being trial for another drug trafficking related offences and money laundering offences to July 9 and 11, 2024.
He is being tried before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Justice Aluko had on March 3, 2023, convicted and sentenced the drug baron to five years imprisonment for trafficking in 24. 5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica.
The judge however ordered the convict to pay a fine option of N600, 000, 00 in lieu of the jail-term.
In addition to the fine option, the judge also ordered the convict to perform a community service for two weeks, at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
However, while the convict is still battling with the court’s decision, he was again rearraigned before the court by the NDLEA, for trafficking in 75.75 kilograms of cannabis indica, which he was alleged to have hid the prohibited drug in two vehicles, a Lincoln Navigator and a Toyota Yaris.
He was alleged to concealed the two vehicles in a 40 ft container number MSCUS33668-0.
He was also charged for allegedly laundering the sum of N400 million, by using non-existing firms.
NDLEA in the new charge against the convicted drug baron, had called 10 witnesses and tendered several exhibits.
The 10 witness, Dr. Dr. Uduo Thomas Achu, while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs O. I. Iwuchukwu told the court how the convicted drug baron made an additional statement on May 24, 2024, and claimed that he is a spare parts seller at Tincan Island Port, Apapa, Lagos.
Dr. Achu also told the court that based on the information given by the convict, he went to the Tin-Can Island Port, to investigate the claim and was informed that the only business done at Tin-Can Island Port is importation and exportation of goods. Adding that with the different security agencies, there is no way an individuals can carry out the business of buying and selling there.
The witness also stated that based of the information gotten from Tin Can Island, he decided to look at the Adigwe’s statement of accounts in order to have the idea of the type of business he is doing.
Achu said: “in analysing the his four statement of account, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTbank and Fidelity Bank, I discovered a pattern of lodgement and transactions that is consistent with with money laundering. I find out that the lodgement has no legitimate origin,” he said.
He also told the court that between August 4, 2021 to December 14, 2022, the ‘defendant’ received and retained a gross total sum of N143 million, from one Emmanuel Chika’s Guaranty Trust Bank Account No 0129693089 into his Guaranty Trust Bank Account No. 0137030218 in several transactions.
Achu further stated that in the course of his investigation, he discovered that Steve Adigwe between September 2, 2021 and December 15, 2022, transferred a gross total of about N137,530 million, from his Guaranty Trust Bank Account No. 0137030218 into his Isinobong Nig. Limited’s Stanbic Bank Corporate Account No. 0039258905 with several transactions, with the aim of concealing or disguising the origin of the funds.
However, at the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday and Tuesday, the witness while being cross-examined by the lawyer to the convict, Chief Benson Ndakara, admitted that there were two seizures of cannabis indica of 24.5 Kilogrames and 75.75 Kilograms.
He also affirmed that the convict was in detention when the second seizure of 75.75 kilograms was made. Adding that documents used in importing the two seized drugs were similar.
When asked if the Bill of Lading of the second seizure contained the name of the convict, the witness responded that the name on the. Bill of Lading was Ogbofu Chika, who is a relation to the convict.
When further asked if he give the ‘defendant’ assets declaration form to fill and if his lawyer was with them while the defendant filled the Form, The witness said yes and that a lawyer (nof the counsel in court) was with them.
When probed further if the lawyer counter-signed the assets declaration form, the witness said he cannot remember.
When asked if he see any property belonging to the ‘defendant’. He responded and said yes. Adding that the company did not have physical location. And that he did not confirm from the company if the defendant is a director in that company.
When further questioned if he read the ‘defendant’ statement and if the ‘defendant’ accepted bringing in the 75.75 Kilogrames of cannabis indica. The witness said ‘yes I read his statement and that ‘defendant’ did not accept’.
Upon conclusion of the 10 witness testimony, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to July 9 and 11, 2024, for continuation of convicted drug baron’s trial.
