Drug Trafficking: Senior Immigration Officer, 3 Others Arrested

A senior immigration officer, Akomolafe Gbenga Michael, has been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for trafficking in 8 kilograms of methamphetamine, a drug similar to Cocaine and Heroine and 7.60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana.

The immigration officer was arraigned before Justice Daniel Osiagor’s led court, alongside three others by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a nine count-charge of alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession, import and dealing in the prohibited substances.

Others arraigned on the alleged offences were alongside the Immigration Officer are; Babatunde Micheal Olufemi, said to be a staff of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nwadozie Chris Amaechi and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril.

Arraigning the immigration officer and others, the prosecutor, r. Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the four who belong to hard drug syndicate, were arrested on May 21, 2024, while attempting to snuggle the prohibited substances out of Murtala Muhammad International Airport Ikeja, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Mr. Ibrahim told the court that the four men conspired to commit the alleged crimes alongside the dou of Nwadozie Sunday and Echezona Nwosu, based in South Africa.

Specifically, the immigration officer, Mr. Akomolafe was slammed with six count charge of conspiracy, unlawful import, unlawful possession, and trafficking in the banned substances. 

While the duo trio of Olufemi, said to be a staff of FAAN, Nwadozie and Nwosu, were slammed with three counts of conspiracy and unlawful importation and possession of the banned drugs.

The prosecutor told the court that the alleged criminal act of the four men contravened sections 14 (b), 21 (2)(d) and 20 (1)(c) punishable under section 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 members of the gang 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, Benson Ndakara, pleaded with the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms.

Upon the moving of the bail application, Justice Osiagor admitted bail to the immigration officer in the sum of N10 million with one surety.

The judge also ordered that the surety must be a Civil Servants of an Assistant Director cadre in the employment of Lagos State or the Federal Government. While 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 on each count.

The three convicts were however ordered to pay fine option of N2 Million fine on each count.

The judge also ordered that both the sentences and fine option shall run concurrently.