A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has adjourned till July 7, 2024 for the trial of five defendants – three men and two women alleged to have imported into Nigeria 49.70kilogrammes of Heroin to commence.
According to a nine count amended charge filed before the Federal High Court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Prosecuting Counsel, Barrister Augustine Nwagu, it was allegedly stated that the five defendants:
1. ADINNU FELIX CHINEDU
2. IBEWUIKE NDIDIAMAKA CONFIDENCE
3. OSITA EMMANUEL OBINNA
4. UZOCHUKWU FRANKLINE
5. IGBOKWUPUTA ONYINYE IREEN
in a collusive arrangement conspired to import 49.70kg, 5.50kg, 3.30kg and 7.70 kg of Heroin into Nigeria.
The summary of the charge as filed before the court against the five defendants and their alleged co-conspirators who are now at large stated thus:
- That you Adinnu Felix Chinedu, male, 45 years old; Mr Arinze A.k.a Arizona (now at large); Mr Abuja A.k.a Sunday (now at large): Reginald Peter Chidiebere (now at large); Festus Ibewuike A.k.a Chidibest (now at large): and Osita Chidozie Cyril A.k.a Monty (now at large) sometime between 2023 and 2024 conspired among themselves to import 49.70kilogrammes of Heroin with Airway bill number 083-18829775 during the inward clearance of cargo on a South Africa Airline flight from South Africa at SAHCO Import Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos without lawful authority imported 49.70 kilogrammes of Heroin concealed inside 15 (fifteen) cartons of Ryobi Electric Cutting machines That you Ibewuike Ndidiamaka Confidence, female, 40 years old; and Festus Ibewuike A.k.a Chidibest (now at large); on or about the 10th day of February 2024 during the inward clearance of cargo with the Airway bill number 083-18829775 on a South Africa Airline flight from South Africa at SAHCO Import Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja without lawful authority possessed 5.50 kilogrammes of Heroin marked with code/initial “ND” with Airway bill number 083-18829775 concealed inside Ryobi Electric Cutting Machines
- That you Osita Emmanuel Obina, male, 43 years old: Mr Arinze A.k.a Chidozie Cyril a.k.a Monty (now at large) Mr. Abuja A.k.a. Sunday now at large on or about the 10th day of February ,2024 on their part during the inward clearance of cargo with the Airways bill number 083-18829775 on a South Africa Airline flight from South Africa at Lagos without lawful possess 5.50 kilograms of Heroin concealed inside Ryobi Electric Cutting Machines
- That you Uzochukwu Frankline, male, 48 years old; Mr Arinze A.k.a Arizona (now at large); and Mr Gbenga (now at large); on or about the 10th day of February 2024 during the inward clearance of cargo with the Airway bill number 083-18829775 on a South Africa Airline flight from South Africa at SAHCO Import Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority possessed 7.70 kilogrammes of Heroin marked with code/initial “AR” with Airway bill number 083-18829775 concealed inside Ryobi Electric Cutting machine.
All the drugs related offences alleged to have been committed by the defendants are contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) 11(a), 20(1)(c), 20(1)(c), 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.