Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of pharmacist Ikwebe Ori Helen at the Kirikiri female section of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) for her alleged involvement in illicit drug peddling.
Helen is facing a two-count charge presented by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to which she pleaded not guilty.
The charges centered around conspiracy and unlawful transportation of 51.10 kilogrammes of Pentazocine Injection 30mg – a narcotic analgesic comparable to cocaine, LSD, and heroin.
Prosecutor Abu Ibrahim highlighted that on June 1, Agadi Sunday was implicated in the transportation of the illicit substance from Maiven Medics International Limited, a pharmaceutical company in Lagos, to the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport in Ikeja, en route to Kaduna.
The defendant’s arrest on June 8, at the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport in Ikeja, while attempting to transport the banned analgesic to Kaduna State, led to her charges.
Abu Ibrahim further emphasized that Helen’s actions were in violation of sections 21 (2)(d) and 20 (1)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and were punishable under section 11(b) of the same Act.
Upon Helen’s plea of not guilty, the court directed her defense counsel, Dennis Warri, and the prosecutor to present arguments for her bail application.
Subsequently, Justice Oweibo granted her bail in the sum of N5 million, requiring one surety in a similar amount.
The court stipulated that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and the court’s registrar would verify the bail documentation. The trial is scheduled to commence on September 20.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal drug trade, emphasizing the importance of adhering to stringent regulations surrounding controlled substances.
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