NDLEA drags woman to court over alleged export of cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dragged a 30-year-old woman, Ogechi Eze, before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court over an alleged export of cocaine.

The defendant was arraigned before Justice M. Kakaki on a four-count charge of alleged exportation of cocaine and cannabis.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After her plea, the defence counsel, Dennis Wari, applied for his client’s bail, but the prosecution counsel, Juliana Iroabuchi, vehemently opposed the bail.

Ms Iroabuchi referred the court to certain paragraphs of the affidavit as grounds for opposing the bail application and urged the court to refuse the same.

The court consequently adjourned the case until October 25 to rule on the bail and for trial.

In the charge, the prosecution held that the defendant committed the offences on July 19 at the NACHO Export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

She alleged that the defendant was arrested during the examination of cargo to Pakistan.

According to the prosecution, the defendant had concealed 300g of cocaine in a white sack filled with HibiicuI sabdariffa leaves.

She was alleged to have exported the said narcotics to her cousin Nnamdi Eze, who has resided in Pakistan for about 10 years after he paid her N1.2 million.

The defendant was also alleged to have exported 1.6 kg of cannabis sativa, which she concealed in a sack containing vegetable (Bitter leaf).

She was alleged to have previously exported such cargo to Pakistan five times.

The prosecution alleged that she conspired with Mr Eze, one Ada and her husband, and one Chika Merit, who are all at large, to commit the offences.

The offences contravene sections 11(b) and 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

(NAN)