Customs Gets Nod To Detain Bizman For Codeine, Tramadol Trafficking

The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) permission to detain a businessman, Azuka Ndujekwu in its custody for allegedly smuggling codeine and tramadol into the country.

The trial judge, Akintayo Aluko, said customs can keep Ndujekwu in its custody until the conclusion of their investigation into the allegations of the unlawful importation of the prohibited drugs.

The prosecutor, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, had told the court that the defendant unlawfully imported 10 Cartons of Super Royal 225 Tramadol and 754 cartons of Codeine into Nigeria.

Bode-Ayeni also claimed that the defendant brought the drugs into the country in a 1X40 feet container marked MRKU 553432\1 and made a false declaration to the customs.

While moving the exparte application, the Customs lawyer stated that the application was under Sections 294 and 295 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA)2015; Sections 6, 233 and 259 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023; Sections 6 (6), 35 (1)(c), (5) & (7) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) and Order 46 Rules 4(d) of the Federal High Court Rules.

Mrs. Bode-Ayeni also supports the application with an affidavit deposed by a litigation officer in the legal unit, TinCan Island, Apapa, Lagos State, M. A. Kayode.

Justice Aluko, after listening to the submissions of the Customs’ lawyer, granted the remand order and directed that the suspect be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian customs till the conclusion of the investigation and prosecution.

It would be recalled that Justice Aluko had, on August 28, remanded one Boniface Ike Okoye, in the custody of the NCS, for alleged smuggling of the same prohibited drugs.