National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has applied to a Federal high court sitting in Lagos, seeking the interim attachment and final forfeiture order of the court to the Federal Government of Nigeria, two vehicles alleged to have been used as an instrumentality of unlawful importation of illicit drugs.
In an affidavit sworn to by a litigation officer Kareem Olayinka, attached to the Directorate of prosecution and legal services of NDLEA, and filed before the court by the prosecutor I.J. Igwubor, the deponent avers that:
NDLEA by law is empowered to arrest, seize, investigate, and prosecute offenses relating to drug matters.
On the 31st day of December 2022, 24 Cannabis indica was seized from a Toyota Sienna Car in a container from Montreal Canada along with other vehicles used for unlawful importation of the said drug from Canada.
Upon searching for the Toyota Sienna Vehicle, which was brought in through container number MSMU5082733 had 24.5 Kilograms of dried weeds in it.
The defendant Steve Adigwe a. k. a. Obobo who was responsible for the unlawful importation has been convicted of the offense by the Court since he pleaded guilty at the first instance of his arraignment.
Steve Adigwe a.k.a. Obobo Isioma was charged before the Court for unlawful importation of 24.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica on a charge dated the 27th of January 2023.
Olayinka avers further that the law requires that all instrumentalities of conveyance of illicit drugs be subjected to forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria if the defendant is convicted of the offense. The defendant, in this
case, has been convicted by the Court of the offense.
The Toyota Sienna vehicle mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs is an instrumentality used in conveying the 24.5 kilograms of Cannabis indica for which the Defendant has been convicted
Both the consignee and importer of the container wherein the drugs were found vide attached bill of lading. Having determined the charge that an order of final forfeiture is made by this court.
Consequently, NDLEA prays the court for Interim attachment and final forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria, one Toyota Sienna with CHASIS NO:5TDZA2955360882, 2009. Model green in Colour, used as an instrumentality of unlawful importation of 24.5 kilograms of Cannabis indica, seized by the NDLEA at Tincan Island port and vesting custody of same in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) having been convicted of the charge
The amended Charge, filed against the convict upon which he was convicted, after pleading guilty is stated below.
That you STEVE ADIGWE a.k.a. OBOBO ISIOMA, Male, Adult on or about the 31st day of December 2022 at Tin can Island Port, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority imported 24.5 Kilograms of Cannabis Indica, concealed in a Sienna Vehicle using container number MSMU 5082733 and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Meanwhile, the presiding Judge, Akintayo Aluko has adjourned till the 23rd of March,2023 for a hearing of the application.
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