Court Extends Remand Order On Alleged Drug Baron For 14 Days

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted leave to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to further detain the alleged drug baron, Sulaimon Jimoh alias “Olowo Idi Ogede, for an additional 14 days.

Justice Aluko, who had earlier on July 26, 2024, ordered that Jimoh, also known as Temo, be detained for an initial 14 days, extended the order after hearing an Ex Parte motion filed by the Legal Officer-in-charge officer in charge of the Lagos Command of the agency, Lambert Nor.

While moving the application, the lawyer informed the court that the motion is under sections 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Section 296 (1)(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Order 26 Rules 8 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 and under court’s inherent jurisdiction.

They also informed the court that the extension order sought enables NDLEA to tie up the several legs of the cases against the suspect in different jurisdictions because responses to the investigation of several diverse aspects of the cases against the suspect are still awaited.

He submitted that the preliminary investigation revealed a broader and more sensitive network of drug activities, which required further check and confirmation.

The NDLEA lawyer also told the judge that the order sought was to have his legal custody and that the items seized from him were not to violate his rights.

Anti-graft drug agency in a 13-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Kayode Abu Ojo, a litigation officer with NDLEA, the deponent made the following averments: “that the applicant sought and obtained an Order of this Honourable Court to remand Sulaimon Jimoh alias “Olowo Idi Ogede” a.k.a. “Temo” has wanted a high-profile drug baron for over ten years in the Applicants Custody.

“That the applicant has complied with the Order of this Court made on 26th July 2024. The applicant now seeks an additional period of 14 days to remand the Suspect in the Custody of the Applicant for the following reasons.

“That is the period of the detention of the suspect, Sulaimon Jimoh alias “Olowo Idi Ogede” a.k.a. “Temo,” a wanted high-profile drug baron ordered by the Honourable Court. There was a nationwide mass protest with attendant security implications, which stalled the work of the investigation panel and led to the loss of a substantial portion of the 14-day initial period granted by the Court.

“That in the course of the same time, counsel to the suspect was not available for some time to enable the suspect to complete his statement. By the time counsel to the suspect came, quite a substantial time of the 14 days granted by the court had been lost.

Justice Aluko, after listening to the lawyer and reading through all processes filed and legal authorities supplied, held that “the application has merit, and the order sought is at this moment granted.”

The judge then adjourned the matter to August 23 for a report of investigation.