Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal high court, in Lagos yesterday remanded in custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), an alleged drug baron, Omeje Oliver, who have been using the nickname ‘David Mark’, to carry out his illicit business.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa ordered the remand of alleged impostor, after he pleaded not guilty to the two counts charge of unlawful dealing in 950 grams of banned substance, heroin.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA through its prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, while arraigning the Defendant, informed the court that he had sometimes April 13, 2022, procured one Idokoja Solomon Chukwurah to export 950 grams of Heroin.
He also told the court that the impostor unlawfully was found in possession of the banned substance.
He further told the court that the offences committed contravened Sections section 21 (2)(d) and 11(b) and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The Defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Upon his not guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand him in custody till the determination of the charges against him.
Responding, counsel to the Defendant, Mr. Dennis Warri, told the court that he has filed his client’s bail application and same has been served on the prosecutor.
But the prosecutor told the court that he was just served with the bail application, and he needed time to file a counter, due to some salient issues surrounding the case.
The prosecutor consequently ask for adjournment for hearing of the application.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after hearing both parties, ordered that the defendant be remanded in NCoS’ custody till Friday, when his bail application will be heard
The charges against the Defendant reads “That you Omeje Oliver a.k.a David Mark Adult, Male on or about the 13th April 2022 procured one Idokoja Solomon Chukwurah to export 950 grams of Heroin, a Narcotic Drug and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (2) (d) and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Omeje Oliver a.k.a David Mark Adult, Male on or about the 13th April 2022 without lawful authority exported 950 grams of Heroin, a Narcotic Drug and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
