Lagos: Ex- local govt. vice-chairman remanded for allegedly exporting 1,000 Kg of cocaine

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered that the former Vice Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government Area, Asekun Sakiru Kehinde, be remanded at the correctional centre following his arraignment on a charge of allegedly exporting 1,000 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Justice Ayokunle Faji, on Wednesday gave the order after Kehinde pleaded not guilty to one count bordering on the offence.

The defendant was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, told the judge that Kehinde had committed the offence on May  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 kilogramme of cocaine, a narcotic drug” that is prohibited in the country.

Following Kehinde’s plea, his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Supo Shasore informed the judge of a pending bail application.

He, therefore, asked the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms, noting that the offence for which he was charged is a bailable one.

But the prosecution counsel opposed the application. Citing the gravity of the offence, he asked the court to refuse the bail application.

Justice Faji then adjourned his ruling till July 16 and ending the ruling, he ordered the remand of the defendant in custody.