The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday arraigned a 58 year-old notorious drug baron before a Jos Federal High Court for illegal possession of tons of hard drugs.
The Jos-based baron, Mr Jude Okekwe Okoye, alias “Zuma”, was arrested by intelligence officers of the Agency on June 9, 2017 in his parking store at Apata quarters in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The suspect is being tried on an eight-count charge of alleged unlawful possession of 1, 372Kg of Tramadol drug, 1, 089 Kg of cough syrup containing codeine, 28. 3 Kg of Diazepam injection and 16Kg of Pentazocine injection, all alleged to be psychotropic substances similar to cocaine and heroine.
Others substances allegedly found in his possession include; 18Kg of cough syrup containing codeine, 200g of Lorazepam tablets, 250g of Tramadol and 100g of Pentazocine Injection.
The NDLEA Prosecuting Counsel, Buhari Abdullahi told the presiding judge, Justice Dorathy Agishi that by possessing such hard drugs the suspect had committed offences contrary and punishable under sections 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the federation of Nigeria 2004.
However, when the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.
Abdullahi then prayed the court to commence his trial since he pleaded not guilty to the offences laveled against him by the agency.
“My Lord, the frightening aspect is that most of these hard drugs found in the accused possession are expired drugs, which when found their ways into the market would have posed serious danger to the lives of innocent people of Nigeria,” he disclosed.
Two officers of the NDLEA gave testimonies of the arrest and substances found in the possession of the accused.
Mr Etsu Daniel, the agency’s exhibit keeper, who was the PW1, told the court the exact quantity of each of the substances found in the baron’s possession and presented them to the court as exhibits against the accused.
Daniel told the court that he personally carried out the weighing of all the substances and the discovering of their weights and labeling for presentation before the court.
Also testifying was the agency’s Plateau Command Chief Superintendent, Mrs Etna, who accused Okoye of endangering the lives of unsuspecting innocent Nigerians especially citizens of Plateau with his illicit acts.
Meantime, the Defence Counsel, Umar Shettiem, thereafter cross-examined the two witnesses on their testimonies against his client.
The prosecuting counsel however told the court that he had more witnesses to testify against the baron and asked for adjournment to enable him bring them to court to give their testimonies.
Justice Agishi however adjourned the matter to 23 and 24 April, 2018 for continuation of hearing.
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