JUSTICE Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday remanded three Bolivians in prison custody over an allegation of producing 4.8 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine. The drug is said to be similar to cocaine, heroin and Lysergic acid Diethylamide (LSD).

The Bolivians, Reuben Ticono Jorge, Yhugo Chaveaz Moreno and Yerko Artunduago Dorado, were earlier arraigned by the Federal Government yesterday on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful preparation and production of the drug as well as permitting the use of their premises located at No. 38 Daily Times Estate Satellite Town, Lagos for the production and storage of the said drug weighing about 4.8 kilogrammes.

The trio were subsequently remanded by the judge, after pleading ‘not guilty’ to the three-count charge, which was read to them through an interpreter provided by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The offence of which the Bolivians were being charged with according to the charge sheet signed by the Director, Prosecution and Legal Services (NDLEA), Femi Oloruntoba, is contrary to and punishable under sections 14(b), 20(a) and 12 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 of laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Before the matter was adjourned till May 16, 2012 for trial, the defence’s counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, had urged the court to direct the prosecution led by Mrs. Theresa Asquio to furnish him with the proof of evidence and the exhibits to enable the accused persons to prepare for their defence.

Count one of the charge read: “That you, Reuben Ticono Jorge, Yhugo Chaveaz Moreno and Yerko Artunduago Dorado, males, adults, sometimes in the month of November, 2011 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired with one Solomon Azuka and Basil Ikechukwu Uzoka both now at large to engage in the production and preparation of methamphetamine, a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 of Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Apr 19 2012. Filed under Africa & World Politics, Headlines, NDLEA (Anti-Drug Agency). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry