By Robert Egbe
A suspected drug dealer, Nelson Anayo, who allegedly attempted to export 2.3kg of Indian hemp to Gabon, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
Anayo, 38, was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before Justice Saliu Saidu on a one-count charge of illegal exportation of the narcotics.
NDLEA counsel Augustine Nwagu, in a charge marked FHC/L/09c/2020, alleged that the defendant committed the offence on December 19, 2019.
Nwagu said Anayo was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos during outward clearance of a consignment belonging to him.
The court heard that 2.3kg of Cannabis Sativa, popularly called Indian hemp, was found concealed in Anayo’s consignment meant for export to Gabon.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, 2004.
Anayo pleaded not guilty.
Read Also: NDLEA, Adamawa govt to partner on addicts’ rehabilitation
Following his plea, Nwagu applied that the defendant be remanded at a correctional services custody pending trial.
But Anayo’s counsel, Victor Abana, opposed him.
Abana said he had filed a motion for bail and same had been served on the prosecution.
He prayed the judge to grant the defendant bail “in the most liberal terms.”
Upholding Abana’s prayer, Justice Saidu granted Anayo N10million bail with two sureties in the like sum, among other terms.
He remanded the defendant at a correctional services custody pending perfection of the bail conditions and adjourned till March 17 for trial.
Leave a Reply