Top Immigration Officer
OpenLife Nigeria reports that a senior Immigration officer, Akomolafe Gbenga Michael, currently serving at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, has been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for trafficking in 8 kilograms of Methamphetamine and 7.60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana.
The immigration officer was arraigned before Justice Daniel Osiagor’s led court, alongside three others by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a nine count-charge of alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession, import and dealing in the prohibited substances.
Others arraigned on the alleged offences alongside the Immigration Officer are; Babatunde Micheal Olufemi, said to be a staff of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nwadozie Chris Amaechi and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril.
Arraigning the immigration officer and others, the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the four who belong to hard drug syndicate, were arrested on May 21, 2024, while attempting to snuggle the prohibited substances out of Murtala Muhammad International Airport Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecutor, Mr. Ibrahim told the court that the four men conspired to commit the alleged crimes alongside the dou of Nwadozie Sunday and Echezona Nwosu, based in South Africa.
Specifically, the immigration officer, Mr. Akomolafe was slammed with six count charge of conspiracy, unlawful import, unlawful possession, and trafficking in the banned substances.
While the duo trio of Olufemi, said to be a staff of FAAN, Nwadozie and Nwosu, were slammed with three counts of conspiracy and unlawful importation and possession of the banned drugs.
The prosecutor told the court that the alleged criminal act of the four men contravened sections 14 (b), 21 (2)(d) and 20 (1)(c) punishable under section 11(b) and 20 (2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, while the other three members of the gang pleaded guilty to the charges, the immigration officer denied the offences and pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge.
Based on the not guilty plea of the immigration officer, his lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, pleaded with the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms.
Upon the moving of the bail application, Justice Osiagor admitted bail to the immigration officer in the sum of N10 million with one surety.
The judge also ordered that the surety must be a Civil Servants of an Assistant Director cadre in the employment of Lagos State or the Federal Government. While adjourned his trial to November 7, 2024.
However, the trio of Babatunde Micheal Olufemi, Nwadozie Chris Amaechi and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril, based on their guilty plea, were convicted and sentenced to 4 years on each count.
The three convicts were however ordered to pay fine option of N2 Million fine on each count.
The judge also ordered that both the sentences and fine option shall run concurrently.
Meanwhile Justice Daniel Osiagor has adjourned further trial in the matter till November 7,2024.
The offences against the defendant reads:
That you 1. Akomolafe Gbenga Micheal 2. Babatunde Micheal Olufemi 3. Nwadozie Chris Amaechi 4. Nwosu Chinedu Cyril all being members of a drug syndicate based in Nigeria conspired with one Nwadozie Sunday and Echezona Nwosu (both based in South Africa, now at large) adults, males, on or about the 21st day of May 2024 conspired amongst yourselves to import 8 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control, you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
Count 2
That you Akomolafe Gbenga Micheal 2. Babatunde Micheal Olufemi 3. Nwadozie Chris Amaechi 4. Nwosu Chinedu Cyril all being members of a drug syndicate based in Nigeria conspired with one Nwadozie Sunday and Echezona Nwosu (both based in South Africa, now at large) adults, males, on or about May 21, 2024 conspired amongst yourselves to import 7.60 kilogram of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin, you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count 3
That you Akomolafe Gbenga micheal adult, male on or about May 21, 2024 procured one Babatunde Micheal Olufemi on behalf of one Nwadozie Sunday (based In South Africa, Now at large) to possess
8 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 21 (2) (d) and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count 4:
That you Akomolafe Gbenga Micheal adult, male on or about May 21, 2024 procured one Babatunde Micheal Olufemi on behalf of one Nwadozie Sunday (based in South Africa, now at large) to possess 7.60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 21 (2) (d) and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count 5
That you Akomolafe Gbenga Micheal adult, male on or about May 21, 2024 at the Gate C of Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority possessed 8 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 20 (1) (c) and punishable under section 20 (2) (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count 6:
That you Akomolafe Gbenga Micheal adult, male on or about May 21, 2024 at the Gate C of Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority possessed 7,60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin, and you thereby Committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 20 (1) (c) and punishable under section 20 (2) (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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