NDLEA Arraigns Immigration Officer, 2 Others for Alleged Drug Trafficking

Wale Igbintade

An immigration officer, Sanni Razak Adeola, alongside two other persons were yesterday arraigned by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession and export of 1.00 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, a narcotic substance.

Adeola, who is attached to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, alongside Eyah Nnamdi Celestine (a.ka. Murphy) and Hein Narcisse (a.k.a. Ugwuoke Peter Oluchukwu).

The duo of Eyah and Hien were arraigned on alleged charges of conspiracy and unlawful exportation of 1.00 kilogrammes of cocaine, while Sanni was arraigned on one-count of aiding and abetting.

He was accused of aiding both Eyah and Hein to illegally export the banned substance.

Prosecution counsel, Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the three men committed the offences on June 8, 2023.

He told the court that both Eyah and Hien, a.ka. Ugwuoke Peter Oluchukwu, at Avenue Garden, Ago Palace-way, Lagos, conspired to unlawfully export 1.00 kilograms of Methamphetamine.

The prosecutor also told the court that the first defendant, Eyah, procured the second defendant, Hien.

Upon reading of the charge, both Eyah and Hien pleaded guilty to the charges but the immigration officer denied the allegation of aiding and abetting made against him and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the guilty plea of both Eyah and Hien, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge as well tendered exhibits which were admitted by the court.

The prosecutor after review of facts of the charge, urged the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the NDLEA Act they were charged with.

However, counsel to the convicts, Uche Okoronkwo, pleaded with the court to give his clients a non-custodian sentence.

He also urged the court to award a fine option in lieu of the custodian sentence.

Justice Oweibo in his judgement sentenced each of the convicts to two years imprisonment on each count.

The judge, however, ordered the convicts to pay fine option of N1 million each in lieu of the jail terms.

However, counsel to the immigration officer, Chief Benson Ndakara, urged the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.

Despite the opposition raised by the prosecutor, Justice Oweibo, while ruling on the parties’ submissions, admitted the immigration officer to bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety in like sum.

Justice Oweibo ordered that the surety must not be less than Grade 12 in either Lagos State or federal government establishment.

The judge ordered that the immigration officer be remanded at the Ikoyi centre of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), and adjourned the matter till October 5, for trial.

The charge against the defendants reads: “that you Eyah Nnamdi Celestine a.ka. Murphy and Eyah Nnamdi Celestine a.k.a. Ugwuoke Peter Oluchukwu both adults, male on or about the 8th June 2023 at Avenue Garden, Ago Palace-way, Lagos, conspired to export 1.00 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control and you thereby committed an act contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you Sanni Razak Adeola adult, male on or about the 9th June 2023 at the New Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja-Lagos, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight to Doha, Dubai, United Arab Emirates aids/abets one Hien Narcisse a.k.a. Ugwuoke Peter Oluchukwu to export 1.00 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control and you thereby committed an act contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”