Pharmacist, 4 others remanded for trafficking tramadol

Justice Lewis Allagoa of a Lagos Federal High Court, on Friday, ordered the remand of a 54-year-old pharmacist, Okafor Christian Chibuzor and four others, for allegedly trafficking in banned tramadol brands.

Others ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) are Alhaji Siwidi Isyaku, 39, Aliyu Mohammed, 35, Emmanuel Bassey, 63 and Lawrence Ezekwe Nwachukwu, 42.

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Justice Allagoa made the remand order, after they all pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy; unlawful dealing in the banned drugs, and obstructing the officials of NDLEA from carrying out their lawful duty.

Arraigning the pharmacist and others on Friday, the prosecutor, Abdullahi Hussain, told the court that all the defendants were arrested on December 16, 2021, at Justrite area, Agege, Lagos.

He told the court that during the arrest, all the defendants unlawfully had in their possession the following brand and quantities of tramadol; 50,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg, 46,000 tablets of Tapentadol; 50000 tablets of Ticmadol and 36,000 tablets of Fakadol.

The prosecutor also told the court that one of the defendants, Lawrence Ezekwe Nwachukwu, used his Toyota Camry car with registration number APP193-GF, Lagos, to convey the banned drugs, which were concealed in two Ghana-must-go bags.

Abdullahi also told the court that Nwachukwu, obstructed officials of the NDLEA from performing their lawful duty and also instigated others to attack them.

The prosecutor told the court that the offences of the defendants were punishable under sections 14(b); 20(c); 11(c); 11(b) and 49 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigerian 2004. 

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

With the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, and to remand them in the NCoS’ custody, till the determination of the charge.

Counsel to the defendants, Benson Ndakara, informed the court that the defendants’ bail applications had been filed and served on the prosecutor whom, he said, had responded through a counter.

Ndakara pleaded with the court that in the case of deferment of ruling on the application, the court should remand the pharmacist, Okafor Christian Chibuzor, whom he said is battling leg cancer, in the custody of NDLEA for proper medical care.

Justice Allagoa in his bench ruling, while granting Ndakara’s request on the pharmacist, ordered that other defendants, be remanded in the NCoS’ custody, till February 18, when decision will be taken on their bail applications.