From Suleiman Idris, Lagos
A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has remanded a staff of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ibidayin Godwin and four others in prison custody for conspiring with One Ossy, a suspected drug baron now at large, to export 3kg of ethamphetamine.
The offence is contrary to section 14b of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation 2004.
Justice C. J Aneke, ordered Ibidayin, Adetoye Taiwa, Taiwo Ososanya, Fatai Olawale Akera and Alhaji Yusuf Olayemi Bankole to be remanded in prison pending the perfection of their bail conditions. They were arraigned by the NDLEA on a five count charge to which they pleaded not guilty.
In his application for bail, the defense counsel Barrister Benson Ndakara said the accused are entitled to bail and assured that they will be available for trial. However, the Director of Prosecution, Barrister Joseph Sunday, who was represented by Barrister Ichapa Oigoga, opposed the bail application.
In his ruling, Justice Aneke granted the accused persons bail in the sum of five million naira each and a surety in like sum. The surety must be a Public Servant not below grade level twelve in the federal or State Civil Service and must be resident within jurisdiction of the court or own a landed property, while the Certified True Copy of the Deed must be deposited in court.
Furthermore, the court said the surety must produce evidence of tax payment, i.e. a three years tax clearance and that the prosecution (NDLEA) is to verify the authenticity of all documents presented by the sureties within forty-eight hours.
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