Court Declines Bail For Alleged Drug Trafficker Nabbed In Church

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed the bail application of a suspected drug trafficker, Stephen Afam Ikeanyionwu.

Justice Tijjani Ringim ruled that Ikeanyionwu’s application was unmeritorious.

The defendant is on trial for allegedly attempting to smuggle combined hard drugs of cocaine, heroin and Indian Hemp, weighing 69.65 kilogrammes, to the United Kingdom (UK).

According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), he attempted to export the illegal drugs through his logistics and freight forwarding firm, Farawell Company Ltd.

Ikeanyionwu was first brought before the judge on September 9, by the NDLEA.

He was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful dealing in the said banned substances.

NDLEA prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, said the offences contravened and were punishable under sections 14(b) and 21(2)(d) of the NDLEA Act 2004.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Justice Ringim remanded Ikeanyionwu in Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) custody, and adjourned till Thursday, for ruling on his bail application.

“The applicant/respondent failed to controvert all the facts stated in the NDLEA’s counter-affidavit. Consequently, the application is thereby refused,” the judge held.

He returned the case file to the Court’s Administrative Judge, for reassignment.

According to the NDLEA, its operatives detected the banned drugs on August 22, at NAHCO Export Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos.

It told the court that its operatives tried but failed to arrest Ikeanyionwu, because he relocated from his known residence, No. 1, Mike Ajeri Street, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.

Ikeanyionwu was subsequently arrested on August 15, 2021, as he stepped out of a Pentecostal church in Ojodu, where he had gone for a thanksgiving service.

According to the NDLEA, the defendant conspired to commit the offences with one Uche and Emeka, resident in Nigeria, and the duo of one Sunny and Salaja, resident in the United Kingdom, all now at large.