The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arraigned one Wasiu Ayinde, not the popular musician, before a Lagos Federal High Court, for allegedly being in possession of multiple hard drugs.
The defendant, who also bears Olaleye Olalekan, was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo-led court on a three count charge of attempt to export 1.55 Kilograms of Tramadol; 250 grammes of Rohypnol and 100 grammes of MDMA (Designer Drugs), a psychotropic substance similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD.
NDLEA lawyer, Mr. Ibrahim Abu, who stood in for Mr. Augustine Nwagu, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 3, 2022.
Abu told the court that the defendant was arrested at SAHCO Export Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the outward clearance and examination of Cargo to South Africa.
He told the court that the offences committed by the defendant are contrary to Section 20(1)(a) and punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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With the defendant’s plea of not guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and pleaded with the court to remand him in custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the conclusion of the charge.
However, his lawyer, Mrs. Vivian Ekwegh, told the court that she had filed her client’s bail application and the same has been served on the prosecutor The Trumpet gathered.
Justice Oweibo, after taking arguments on the bail application, adjourned till April 5, for ruling, while ordering that the defendant be remanded in NCoS’ custody.