Civil Servant Remanded In Ikoyi Prison Over Alleged Drug Trafficking

CourtA civil servant, Uju Uzor, who was allegedly caught with 1.81kg of cocaine at the Lagos airport, was on Tuesday remanded in Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos.

A Federal High Court which gave the order said the accused should remain in custody pending the determination of his bail application.

Justice Musa Kurya fixed Sept. 19 for ruling on the application.

The 43-year-old man, who teaches at Alapoti in Ogun, is being tried for trafficking in drug.

He, however, pleaded not guilty of the offence.

But the prosecution told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 5 at the

International Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

According to Prosecutor Linus Nor, the accused was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the airport with about 1.81kg of cocaine.

“The cocaine was recovered from him during the clearance of passengers on board a London-bound British airline.

“The accused concealed the narcotic in a brown envelope wrapped in a black nylon bag,” he alleged.

The offence contravened Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004, Nor added.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Victor Abana, urged the court to admit him to a bail on liberal terms.

He said since the essence of bail was to secure the attendance of an accused in court, he was optimistic that the accused would not jump bail if granted.

Section 11(c) provides life imprisonment for drug trafficking. (NAN)