Baron, Courier Rearraigned for Attempting To Export Banned Drug

An alleged drug baron, Ubah Collins Obinna, who was arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, last Thursday, on drug trafficking, was again rearraigned before the court on today, on drug trafficking charges.

Ubah who is currently at the Ikoyi ramand facility of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) as he is still battling to meet the bail conditions imposed on him after pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and unlawful export 440 grams of Methamphetamine out if the country.

In the previous charge marked FHC/L/CS /22c/2020, alongside his alleged courier, Manu David, a.k.a Ezekam David Kenechukwu, was today rearraigned in a charge marked FHC/L/23c/2020, alongside alleged another courier, Ofori Cornelius a.k.a. Ugwanyi Cornelius Emeka, on charges bordering on conspiracy and attempting to export 660 grams of the same Methamphetamine.

Both the alleged drug lord, Ubah and his courier, Ofori, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, were alleged to have committed the offence on December 20, 2019, at Seaside Hotel, Satellite Town, Lagos.

Ubah was also alleged to have procure Ofori, for the purpose of exporting the banned substance for him. While Ofori was alleged to have attempted to export the substance unlawful.

Abu while arraigned the duo of Ubah and Ofori on Monday, told Justice Saliu Saidu that the courier, Ofori,was arrested with the  banned substance at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during an outward clearance of Qatar Airline flight to Doha.

He told the court that the offences committed by the defendants contravened sections 14(b), 21(2)(d) and 11(b) of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency Act. Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same Act.

The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the not guilty plea of the defendants, their lawyer, Mr. Victor Abana, told the court that he had filed their bail applications and same have been served on the prosecution.

Abana urged the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms.

Responding, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu while admitting being served with the defendants’ bail application and said he had replied to same. 

He however called the court’s attention to the legal status of the first defendant, whim he said was recently arraigned before the court on drug related offences and yet to meet the bail terms granted him.

Abu urged Justice Saidu, to note in the remand form that the Monday charge is different from previous charge against him, so that there would not be collusion during his trial.

The prosecutor also told the court to admit the first defendant to bail with conditions that will ensure his attendance in court till the conclusion of the charge.

Following the plea of the defendants’ counsel and submission of the prosecutor,  Justice Saidu, admitted both defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties.

The judge ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation to the defendants, while the second Surety must be a Grade Level 14 officer, in either Federal or Lagos State establishment. Adding that both the defendants and their sureties must deposit two of their recent passport photographs with the court’s Registrars.

The matter has been adjourned till March 30, for trial.

Count one of the charge against the defendants read; “that you Ubah Collins Obinna and Ofori Cornelius a.k.a. Ugwanyi Cornelius Emeka both Male, Adults on or abut 20th December 2019 a Side Sea Hotel Satellite Town, Lagos conspired m amt 660 Grams d Methamphetamine, a Psychotropic Substance under international control and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency Act. Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.