NDLEA arraigns Custom official caught peddling marijuana

Custom official caught peddling drugs: Emmanuel Ugokwe

Ugwoke Emmanuel,25, a custom official has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Thursday, for trafficking Marijuana.

The accused, who resides in Badagry, a Lagos suburb, served at the Seme border Post of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is reported to have been dismissed from service.

Ugokwe, a driver of a Customs vehicle, was apprehended by men of the National Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on the 14^th of May at Gbaji Customs check point along Seme-Badagry Road, when he was allegedly trafficking 394 kg of Cannabis Sativa a.k.a ‘Weed’.

He was reported to have intentionally driven the prohibited ‘weed’ in a Toyota Hilux belonging to the NCS.

He was charged on two counts of drug trafficking, to which he pleaded ‘not guilty’.

However,the prosecutor, Mr Aliyu Abubakar, said that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 19, 20(1)(a) and 20 (2) of the NDLEA Act. Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Based on his plea, Abubakar urged the court to order the remand of the accused in prison custody while he sought for a trial date.

Chief Benson Ndakara,  counsel to the accused, pleaded with the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms.

He told the court that he had filed a motion for bail and same had been served on the prosecution who had also responded accordingly.

 Justice Rabiu Shagari, ruled that that accused be remanded  in custody and adjourned the next hearing for Sept. 28, to decide his bail application.