Two Brothers Arraigned For Aiding Convicted South African Drug Baroness
Two brothers, Chucks Sunday Onowu and Isaac Chukwuka Onowu were Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos by the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly aiding and abetting a convicted South African lady, Lorato Lekganyane, to export 1.210 kilograms of Cocaine.
NDLEA slammed a three count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful exportation of the said banned drug and aiding and abetting against the brothers.
In the charge marked FHC/L/299c/16, filed by the agency, through its prosecutor, Augustine Nwagu, it was alleged that the two accused persons had between April and May, 2016, conspired with Lekganyane, who was convicted by the Federal High Court, to export 1.210 kilograms of Cocaine from Nigeria.
The NDLEA alleged that the brothers on May 20, 2016, at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, without lawful authority, exported 1.210 kilograms of Cocaine.
NDLEA also alleged that the second defendant, Onowu Isaac a.k.a. Ezekwesili, aided the convicted South African lady, Lerato Lekganyena, to export the banned drug.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Austin Nwagu, are contrary to, and punishable under sections 14(b), 11(B) and 14(a) of the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency, Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The Owowus pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Upon their not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand them in prison custody.
But their lawyer, Prosper Ojakovo, prayed the court to admit his clients to bail.
Ojakovo particularly told the court that the first defendant had earlier been admitted to bail. He therefore urged the court to allow him to continue with the former bail terms.
On the second defendant, Ojakovo, he pleaded with the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms.
In a short ruling, Justice Anka ordered that the second defendant, Isaac, be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application.
The matter has been adjourned till Thursday, August 18, 2017, for hearing of the second defendant’s bail application.
