Court remands Catholic Knight, cousin for heroin dealing

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of a Catholic Knight, Sir Basil Okafor, and his cousin, Edwin Okwuchukwu Izuchukwu, in custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged illegal dealing in 2.169 kg of heroin.

The presiding judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, gave the order on Wednesday.

The order was sequel to the arraignment of the duo by the NDLEA on charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of the illicit drug and perversion to course of justice.

The defendants, however, denied the alleged offence upon their arraignment, following which the NDLEA’s lawyer, Umar Hussain, sought for a trial date and defendants’ remand in a Correctional Centre.

Responding, the defence counsel, Benson Idakara, drew the court’s attention to his clients’ bail motion, saying it has been served on the prosecution.

He also pleaded with the court to remand the defendants in NDLEA’s custody pending perfection of their bail conditions.

After listening to parties’ submissions for and against the bail motion, Justice Osiagor admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety in like sum.

The presiding judge said the surety must be a senior civil servant with either Lagos State or Federal Government.

Justice Osiagor also ordered that the defendants should be remanded in NDLEA’s custody pending perfection of the bail terms.

Further hearing in the matter has been fixed for October 5, 2022 for trial.

In the charge, the Catholic Knight was accused of obstructing NDLEA’s operatives in the performance of their duties while trying to arrest him in connection with the seized 2,169kg of heroin by throwing his mobile phone, iPhone 7*A1661 with IMEI Numbers 3494 7108650649 containing MTN sim card (09036306438) into a toilet water closet.

The alleged offence was said to have contravened Sections 14(b); 24(b); 20(1)(a) and 49 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004(as amended), and punishable under Sections 20(2)(a) and 20(2)(b) of the same Act.

The Star

Bamidele Joseph