The Federal High Court in Lagos has directed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to present before the court, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Abdulraheem, a renowned Nigerian businessman and Managing Director of Kaother Abdussalam Hasan Establishment Limited, allegedly held unlawfully by the agency.
The court order, issued by Justice Daniel Osiagor, follows a compelling motion presented by Abdulraheem’s counsel, Mr Adebayo Onifade, citing constitutional provisions and human rights protocols.
Onifade emphasized the motion’s foundation in Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as Order II Rules 1, 2, and 3 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedures.
The businessman, listed as a Consultant to several Nigerian states on Umrah and Hajj Operations, pleads with the court to declare his detention since October 18 as illegal, unconstitutional, and void, urging an immediate release from NDLEA custody.
Abdulraheem’s grounds for relief include the assertion that he has not committed any offense, does not deal in illicit drugs, and was not found in possession of any illegal substances.
His detention allegedly stems from the ongoing case of three women arrested in Saudi Arabia for suspected drug offenses, individuals for whom Abdulraheem facilitated visa, accommodation, and travel arrangements.
In support of the legal action, Abdulraheem’s wife, Raheema, submitted an affidavit detailing the businessman’s role as an accredited international agent handling visa procurement for 88 pilgrims during the recent Umrah and Hajj Pilgrimage.
She underscores the diverse origins of these pilgrims, with 10 departing from the United States, three from Canada, two from the United Kingdom, and the remaining 73 from Nigeria.
Raheema’s account narrates Abdulraheem’s arrest at his office in Lagos on October 18, accompanied by the seizure of personal belongings and a subsequent search of their residence.
Notably, nothing incriminating or illicit drugs were discovered during these searches. She expresses concern over the interrogation of her husband regarding the pilgrims and the alleged substances in Saudi Arabia.
The court is urged to grant the application for the release of Abdulraheem, emphasizing the potential for justice without prejudicing the respondent.
Furthermore, a supporting affidavit from Abdulraheem’s Personal Assistant, Ibrahim Hassan Omoidunnu, corroborates the arrest details, stating that Mrs. Raheema Abdulraheem bailed him out on October 21.
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