By Ibekimi Oriamaja
A Federal High Court in Lagos arrested Pius Enidom for allegedly jumping bail after being charged with trafficking 322 kilograms of tramadol.
Enidom, along with Sunday Ifeanyi Ibekwute and Ukatu Afamefuna Mallinson, was charged with drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
The arrest warrant for Pius Enidom was issued last Friday, following the submission of his lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara.
When the accused did not appear in court on the previous adjourned day, presiding Judge Peter Lifu ordered him to appear with his surety.
The accused and his sureties, however, failed to appear in court on Friday, as ordered.
During the hearing last Friday, Ndakara stated that, as a temple officer, he will not object to any court order requiring the suspect to appear.
This was due to the fact that the lawyer had delivered the court’s order to both the defendant and his sureties, who had no reason to be in court.
As a result, Justice Lifu issued a bench warrant for the accused and ordered his sureties to appear in court.
In related news, Victor Opara SAN and five other lawyers objected to the NDLEA prosecutor’s request to detain Enidom’s co-accused.
According to the lawyers, the two other defendants had been detained by the NDLEA since April without being taken to court or granted administrative bail.
As a result, Opara asked the court to consider granting them bail.
However, Justice Lifu paused the proceedings for two hours to allow the prosecutor to bring the defendants to the stand, who were being held at an NDLEA facility near NACHO Murtala International Airport in Ikeja.
At the case’s resumed hearing, the NDLEA prosecutor presented Sunday Ifeanyi Ibekwute and Ukatu Afamefuna Mallinson, who pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to them.
As a result, Ndakara requested bail from the court, claiming that they would undoubtedly return to stand trial.
However, the prosecutor urged the court not to grant them bail because they are a flight risk.
After hearing the arguments of both parties, Justice Lifu adjourned the case until July 18, 2022.
According to the NDLEA’s four-count amended charge number FHC/L/159C/2021, the three accused conspired among themselves to possess and traffic in 322 kilogrammes of Tramadol, a narcotic drug, without lawful authority, a violation and punishable under the NDLEA Act.
A Senior Advocate from Nigeria Mr. Yusuf Ali has been appointed by the Attorney General of the Federation to lead the prosecution team in order to ensure effective and diligent prosecution.
Charge as amended and filed with the court
COUNT 1
That you PIUS ENIDOM, Male, Adult, SUNDAY IFEANYI IBEKWUTE, Male, Adult and UKATU AFAMEFUNA MALLINSON, Male Adult on or about the 4th day of May 2021 at Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to traffic in 322 Kilogrammes of Tramadol, a narcotic drug without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal on Nigeria (LFN) 2004
COUNT 11
That you PIUS ENIDOM, male Adult, SUNDAY IFEANYI IBEKWUTE,Male, Adult and UKATU AFAMEFUNA MALLINSON, Male Adult on or about the 4th day of May 2021at Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction this Honourable Court trafficked in 322 Kilogrammes of Tramadol, a narcotic drug without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Nigeria (LFN) 2004
COUNT 111
That you PIUS ENIDOM Male Adult,SUNDAY IFEANYI IBEKWUTE, Male Adult and UKATU AFAMEFUNA Male, Adult on or about the 4th day of May 2021at Ikeja,Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable court conspired among yourselves to possess 322 kilogrammes of Tramadol a narcotic drug without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law enforcement Agency(NDLEA)Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal on Nigeria (LFN)2004.
COUNT IV
That you PIUS ENIDOM, Male, Adult, SUNDAY IFEANYI IBEKWUTE, Male, Adult and UKATU AFAMEFUNA MALLINSON, Male Adult on or about the 4th day of May 2021 at Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly possessed 322 Kilogrammes of Tramadol, a narcotic drug, without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal on Nigeria (LFN) 2004.
