Court Remands Suspected Drug Smuggler For Allegedly Importing N550m Illicit Drugs

A Lagos Federal High Court has granted the request of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to remand an alleged smuggler, Boniface Ike Okoye, for using two containers to smuggle tramadol, codeine, and other prohib­ited goods into the country from India.
Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered the Customs Service to remand Boniface in its custody for 14 days when an in­vestigation would have been concluded on the alleged offence.

Boniface was alleged to have ille­gally imported illicit and dangerous drugs valued N550 million, hidden in two loaded containers.

Justice Aluko gave the remand or­der, sequel to a motion exparte filed and argued by the lawyer to the Nige­ria Customs Service, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni.
In urging the court to grant the or­der, Mrs. Bode-Ayeni told the court that the application was pursuant to Sec­tions 294 and 295 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015; Sections 6, 233 & 259 of the Nigeria Cus­toms Service Act, 2023; Sections 6 (6), 35 (1)(a) (5) & (7)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) and Order 46 Rule 4(d) of the Federal High Court Rules.

She told the court that the suspect­ed smuggler was being investigated on offences bordering on conspiracy, unlawful importation of tramadol and codeine, improper importation, and false declaration, which she said are prohibited and contrary to the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and Miscel­laneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, LFN 2004,
Mrs. Bode-Ayeni also told the court that the Motion Exparte was support­ed with an affidavit deposed to by M. A. Kayode, a Litigation Officer, Legal Unit, Tin Can Island, Apapa, Lagos State.

In the affidavit, the deponent averred that on August 23, 2023, offi­cers of the Customs Enforcement Unit, Apapa, were detained by the Customs Area Controller, based on credible in­telligence, to monitor a 1 X40ft Contain­er No. MRKU 553432/1, laden with 10 Cartons of Super Royal 225 Tramadol and 754 cartons of codeine.

He stated that On August 23, 2023, upon examination of the container, it was discovered that tramadol and codeine were concealed in cartons of Compo Ceiling Fan, found inside the container. And that further investiga­tion led to the arrest of Boniface Ike Okoye, the respondent in the suit.

He further stated that the respon­dent provided details of other co-ac­complices who were involved in the importation and manipulation of records and Customs documents to facilitate the unlawful importation, and they are being trailed by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, add­ing that during interim investigation in the matter, the respondent obliged statements, under caution and volun­tarily.

The deponent stated that efforts were being intensified by the opera­tives of the Enforcement Unit of the Customs Area Command, Tin Can Is­land Apapa to arrest others who were actively involved in the importation of the tramadol and codeine and to aid their criminal intentions.

He stated that investigation in this matter would require the operatives of the Customs to go outside jurisdictions with a view to recovering exhibits in connection with the case under inves­tigation.

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He also said investigation into the case cannot be completed within 24 or 48 hours as stipulated by the Con­stitution for which the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service can law­fully detain the Respondent in their custody.

The deponent also stated that re­leasing the respondent on bail would interfere with the ongoing investi­gation and would likely hamper a proper investigation. “And that it is in the interest of the public to remand the respondent in custody the Nige­ria Customs Service, TinCan Island, Apapa, for 14 days to cause thorough and speedy investigation of this case.”

The Judge after hearing the submis­sions of the Nigeria Customs Service’s lawyer, Mrs.Bode-Ayeni, ruled, “I have listened to the submission of counsel to the applicant, and sees the affidavit in support and the respondent’s con­fessional statements and attached ex­hibits… I order that the respondent, Boniface Ike Okoye, be remanded in the custody of Nigeria Customs Ser­vice (NCS) for 14 days, when the inves­tigation would have been concluded.’

The judge consequently adjourned to September 13, for the report of the investigation.