Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court has dismissed two separate bail applications filed by two alleged drug dealers, Lawal Oyenuga and Wasiu Sanni, on the ground that they will not turn up for their trial if set free.
The defendants were arraigned before the court on a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful exportation of 400 grammes of cocaine, illegal export of banned drugs and illicit possession of the same by the men of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The prosecutor Abu Ibrahim had told the court that the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 14 (b), 21 (2)(d), 19 and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Ibrahim had also informed the judge that the defendants, alongside Ganiu Aremu Suleman alias Ganiyu Ejeoto and one Igbono, both now at large, committed the offence on November 17, 2022.
The prosecutor further claimed that the second defendant, Wasiu, also known as ‘Teacher’, allegedly recruited the first defendant for the illicit job.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following their plea, their lawyer, Bolanle Kolawole, pleaded with the court to grant the defendants bail in the most liberal terms.
But the prosecutor opposed the defence request, arguing that such an order would jeopardise the agency’s efforts to arrest their fleeing syndicate members.
Ibrahim further told the court that one of the defendants is currently facing another drug charge before another court and that with the overwhelming evidence against them, they will jump bail if set free by the judge.
Justice Faji, in his ruling agreed with the prosecutor, holding that there is a high possibility that the defendants will jump bail.
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