Court Remands Customs Officer In Prison For Trafficking 384kg Of Marijuana
Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of the Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday remanded a Customs Officer, Emmanuel Ugwoke who was arrested by the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly trafficking 394 kilograms of Marijuana in prison custody.
Justice Shagari ordered that Ugwoke be kept at the Ikoyi Prison till September 28, when his bail application will be decided after he was arraigned before her by the NDLEA on two counts charge of unlawful dealing and transporting of the banned Cannabis Sativa popularly called Marijuana.
The accused, a resident of 25, Bale-Oko in Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos, was accused by the NDLEA to have on May 14, 2017 at Gbaji Customs check point, along Seme-Badagry road Lagos, knowingly possessed and transported the said prohibited drug in a vehicle belonging to Nigeria Customs Services.
The accused person, who is currently serving at the Seme Border Post of Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) was said to have conveyed the said illicit drug in a Toyota Hilux vehicle marked CSO 59 A1, belonging to the Services.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Aliyu Abubakar, are contrary to sections 19 and 20(1)(a) and punishable under section 20(2) of the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The accused person, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court for a trial date and fir an order remanding the Custom Officer in Prison’s custody pending trial.
But his Lawyers, Chief Benson Ndakara urged the court to admit his client to bail on liberal term.
Ndakara also informed the court that they have filed a motion for bail, which have been served on the prosecutor who had equally responded.
The lawyer further told the court that his client is a serving Customs Officer attached to Seme Border Post of the Nigeria Customs Services.
But Justice Rabiu-Shagari, while adjourned the matter till September 28, for ruling on the accused bail application, ordered that he be remanded in Prison’s custody.
