NAN – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday arraigned one Mbachu Ifeanyi in a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly importing 1.14 kg of cocaine into the country.
The accused is standing trial on a one-count charge of unlawful possession of illicit drug.
The prosecutor, Mr Vembe Emmanuel, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offence on July 14, 2014.
Emmanuel, an NDLEA official, said the incident happened during the inward clearance of an Emirate Airline from Dubai at the E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecutor led another NDLEA officer, Mr Mohammed Uthman, in evidence.
The witness told the court that an exhibit officer brought the accused to his office at the Murtala International Airport and handed him a substance suspected to be an illicit drug for analysis.
“I conducted a preliminary test on the suspected substance and it tested positive to cocaine,’’ Uthman said.
The prosecutor consequently tendered to the court various items allegedly recovered from the accused, including three international passports, one Emirate electronic ticket; one hotel voucher and one boarding pass.
The court admitted the items as exhibits in evidence against the accused.
The prosecutor also told the court that the alleged offence contravened Section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, 2004.
NAN reports that the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence and was granted bail.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned the case to March 25 for continuation of trial.
