Court Remands Indian National for Alleged Drug Trafficking

Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded an Indian national, Gupta Ravi Kuma, in the custody of the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for allegedly importing prohibited analgesic, tramadol, into Nigeria.

Justice Kakaki ordered that the foreigner and his co-defendant, Joel Ajewole, be detained until they fulfil the terms of their bail conditions.

The defendants were arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a four-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of 1,610 Kilograms of Tapentadol 200mg and 225 mg, a prohibited analgesic, tramadol.

The prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that the banned drug was seized on September 11, 2025, during the examination of cargoes on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from India to Nigeria, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Import Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

The prosecutor also accused the defendants of procuring Ogunlana Akeem of Akman Global and logistics, who is said to be at large, to smuggle the prohibited analgesic into the country.

Ibrahim further maintained that the offences are contrary to sections 14(b), 21(2)(d), and 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Based on their plea, Ibrahim and the defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara and Tunde Adeoye (SAN), argued separate bail applications on behalf of their clients.

The judge granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100 million each, with two sureties in like sum, who must each have landed properties worth N100 million and have paid taxes for three years.

The judge also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court’s Registrar and instructed them not to travel outside the country during the pendency of the charges.

The matter was adjourned to February 4, 2026, for trial.

Justice Kakaki ordered that the Indian national be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

However, the judge released Ajewole Ayo Joel to his counsel for two weeks to meet bail conditions, warning that he should be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional facility if he failed to fulfil the bail terms.