The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned a businessman before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly importing a container loaded with Tramadol tablets weighing 2,346.9 kilogrammes.
The businessman, Uchenna Oraeto Igboaka, was arraigned on Monday before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on a two-count charge of unlawful importation of the said banned drug.
The prosecutor, Mr Fingere O. Dinneys, told Justice Oweibo that Igboaka committed the offence in July and August this year.
Dinneys told the court that in July, the defendant imported 40 cartons of the Tramadol tablet weighing 225.6 kilogrammes.
The prosecutor added that Igboaka also imported 255 cartons of the same tablet weighing 2,121.3 kilogrammes in August.
He alleged that the defendant unlawfully brought in the banned tablet in two 40-foot containers marked SEGU 6326800 and TCNU 4653816 from Pakistan.
Dinneys told the court that the offences Igboaka allegedly committed contravened Sections 11(a) and 11(3) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws, punishable under the same Act.
Igboaka, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Oweibo, after listening to arguments on bail application for him, held that the prosecution’s argument against the application was not strong enough.
Consequently, the judge admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum, and ordered that he should be remanded in NDLEA’s custody pending the fulfilment of the bail terms.
The matter has been adjourned till October 27, 2020 for trial.
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