National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arraigned a senior immigration officer, Michael Akomolafe, currently serving at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, before the Federal High Court for drug trafficking.
Akomolafe was docked before Justice Daniel Osiagor alongside Babatunde Olufemi, said to be a staff of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nwadozie Amaechi and Nwosu Cyril on a nine count-charge of alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession, import and dealing in the prohibited substances.
They were accused of trafficking 8 kilograms of Methamphetamine and 7.60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana.
The prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, had earlier told the court that the defendants, who belong to a drug trafficking syndicate, were arrested on May 21, 2024, while attempting to smuggle the prohibited substances out of Murtala Muhammad International Airport Ikeja, Lagos.
Ibrahim also claimed that the defendants conspired to commit the alleged crimes alongside Nwadozie Sunday and Echezona Nwosu, based in South Africa.
Specifically, the immigration officer, Mr Akomolafe, was slammed with six-count charges of conspiracy, unlawful import, unlawful possession, and trafficking in the banned substances.
While the trio of Olufemi, Nwadozie and Nwosu were slammed with three counts of conspiracy and unlawful importation and possession of the banned drugs.
The prosecutor maintained that the offences contravened sections 14 (b), 21 (2)(d) and 20 (1)(c), punishable under sections 11(b) and 20 (2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, while the other three gang members pleaded guilty to the charges, the immigration officer denied the offences and pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
Based on the not-guilty plea of the immigration officer, his lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.
Upon moving the bail application, Justice Osiagor granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety.
The judge also directed that the surety be a civil servant of an assistant director cadre in the employment of Lagos State or the federal government. At the same time, he adjourned his trial to November 7, 2024.
However, the trio of Babatunde Micheal Olufemi, Nwadozie Chris Amaechi and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril, based on their guilty plea, were convicted and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment on each count.
The three convicts were, however, ordered to pay an option of N2 Million fine on each count.
The judge also ordered that both the sentences and fine shall run concurrently.
Justice Osiagor then adjourned the case to November 7 for trial.
