(NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday arraigned a drug baron, Ikejiaku Sylvester Chukwunwe, before a Federal High Court, Awka. Chukwunwe, who was described as the most wanted drug trafficker in Anambra, was arraigned on 13 count charges. Also dragged to court by the agency were Oluchi Nduaguba and John Atuenyi.
However, the trio pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them by the prosecutor. Chukwunwe was charged for conspiracy to form and operate a drug trafficking organisation to process and export Methamphetamine; a drug similar to cocaine and heroine by using couriers and cargoes.
He was charged for unlawfully engaging in the organisation, management and financing of a drug trafficking organisation by the production and exportation of methamphetamine.
He was also charged to have conspired to convert the proceeds of illicit traffic in narcotic and psychotropic substances into legitimate enterprises between 2010 and 2015.
Prosecuting counsel Lambert Nor said the offences contravened Section 18(a) of Money Laundering Act, 2011, and punishable under Section 15(1) and (2).
Accordingly, he was charged for converting the proceeds directly from the illicit traffic in narcotic substances into real property and physical assets in different locations in Lagos and Anambra. The other accused persons; Oluchukwu Nduaguba and John Atuenyi, were charged differently on six count charges on the same matter.
The defence counsels, Chief Benson Ndakara and Mr Emmanuel Okenyi, made applications for their bail, but the prosecuting counsel opposed it.
After hearing from both the defence and prosecuting counsels, Justice Isa Gafai adjourned the ruling for their bail application to July 1.
Gafai, however, adjourned the case to Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 for hearing. (NAN)
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