A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday, remanded a Nigerian billionaire, Ukatu Mallinson, who was linked to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari’s alleged N3bn hard drug in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services.
Justice Peter Lifu remanded Ukatu alongside one of his co-defendants, Sunday Ifeanyi Ibekwute.
They are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, trafficking of 322 Kg of Tramadol and unlawful dealing and possession of the said banned drug levelled against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The pair denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The duo were arraigned before the court on Friday where the prosecutor, Mrs Theresa Asuquo, told the court that the alleged offence contravened Sections 14(b); 11, and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal on Nigeria (LFN) 2004.
Their counsel and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Emeka Opara, while moving their bail application following their plea urged the court to admit them to bail in the most liberal terms.
But the prosecutor urged the court to decline to grant the application on the ground that they were a flight risk.
In urging the court to deny them bail, Asuquo asked the court to take a critical look at some paragraphs of the agency’s counter-affidavit in opposition to the defendants’ bail application.
Justice Lifu, on his part, adjourned the matter till July 18 for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that both defendants be remanded in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
He also issued a bench warrant against Pius Enidom who had failed to appear in court despite being issued a hearing notice.