Pastor Remanded Over Alleged Drug Trafficking
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos Wednesday remanded a man who claimed to be a “Pentecostal pastor” Ugwuchukwu Godwin Chinedu in prison custody pending when his bail application for alleged drug trafficking will be heard and determined.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo remanded the defendant in prison custody till October 3, 2019 following his arraignment on a one count charge of unlawful exportation of 1.640 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance listed Under International Control and committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Act Cap 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the matter was called, the prosecutor from NDLEA, Mr Abu Ibrahim informed Justice Oweibo that the prosecution has a one count charge against Chinedu and pleaded with the court to allow the charge to be read to the defendant.
Following the reading of the charge and the defendant’s plea of not guilty, the prosecutor Abu urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody and for a trial date.
The defendant’s counsel, Tony Nnamoko in his submission informed the the court that that he was just brief about the matter and pleaded with the court to grant a short adjournment to enable him complete the process of filing a bail application for the defendant.
Following the submissions of both parties, the trial judge, directed that the defendant be remanded in prison custody and consequently adjourned the matter till October 3, 2019 for the hearing of the bail application of the defendant.
A source from the NDLEA, who did not wants his name mentioned, said defendant have been using evangelism as the cover it his frequent overseas tour to various African and European countries to engaged in the illicit trade of drug pushing before luck ran out against him.
The charge against tbe defendant reads: “that you Ugochukwu Godwin Chinnedu, Male, Adult on or about the 3rd June, 2019, during the check-in of passenger at Murtala Muhammed International Aiport, Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority Exported 1.640 Kilogrammes of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance, listed under International Control and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
