NDLEA arraigns Qatar-based Nigerian for ingesting 650 grammes of cocaine

For smuggling 650 grammes of cocaine into the country by ingestion, a Doha based-Nigerian, Agudozie Peter Ihie has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The 49-year-old Agudozie was arraigned before Justice Tijjani Ringim by the men of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a two counts charge of unlawful importation of the unlawful drug, cocaine. 

NDLEA counsel, Juliana Imaobong-Iroabuchi, told the court that the defendant was arrested on May 25, 2021, for unlawfully importing the banned substance, at the ‘E’ Arrival Hall of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, while on board of Qatar Airways, enroute Kenya to Nigeria.

She said the defendant, while on board the aircraft, excreted parts of the banned substance and hid it in his socks and private part. She further told court that, upon his arrest, he also excreted more of the substance while he was under observation.

The prosecution said his offences contravened section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap No. 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

Following the defendant’s plea of not guilty, the prosecutor, Imaobong Iroabuchi, prayed the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charge against him.

In his response, the defendant’s counsel, Benson Ndakara told the court that he did not opposed the prosecutor’s application for a trial date, but said he has filed the defendant’s bail application and it has been served on the prosecutor.

The prosecutor confirmed being served with the defendant’s bail application.

After listening to their argument on bail application, Justice Ringim adjourned ruling to February 3, 2022 and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the NCoS’ facility.