[News] Ex-Lagos Island Vice chair remanded in prison custody over alleged cocaine export

Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of the former Vice Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government Area (LGA) Asekun Sakiru Kehinde in prison custody following his arraignment for allegedly exporting 1.000 kilogrammes of cocaine.

 

Asekun was arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge marked FHC/L/99c/2021.

 

NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim told the judge that Asekun committed the offence on July 7, 2021, during the outward clearance of passengers on a Virgin Atlantic Airlines flight from Lagos to London-Heathrow, at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

 

The court heard that the defendant, “without lawful authority exported 1.000 kilogrammes of cocaine, a narcotic drug” that is prohibited in the country.

 

When the charge was read to him, Asekun pleaded not guilty. Following his plea, his counsel Olasupo Shasore SAN leading Chief Benson Ndakara informed the court that a bail application had been filed before the court, adding that the NDLEA had filed a reply to the said application. Mr Abu confirmed receipt of the application

 

Mr Shasore prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms because the offence for which he was charged is a bailable one.

 

But the prosecution counsel opposed him, praying the court to refuse the bail application because, according to him, of the gravity of the offence.

 

Delivering his ruling, the judge ordered that Asekun be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till July 16.