Drug Trafficking: businesswoman narrates how husband abandoned her with 3 kids
A businesswoman, Chidi Konyeaso, on Wednesday, September 5 narrated before a Federal High Court, Lagos, how her estranged husband, Dennis Konyeaso, abandoned her and three kids for several years, after he was involved in a hard-drug related offences.
The businesswoman who is standing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris led-court, on a four counts charge of conspiracy, aiding and abating, unlawful dealing and storing of 3.3 kilograms of cocaine.
The estranged couple are being tried by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The offences according to the NDLEA’s prosecutor, Mrs. Obiageri Iwuchukwu Ahaji, are contrary to 14(b), 19 and 12 of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
NDLEA in a charge marked FHC/L/2c/2012, alleged that the couple had sometimes in July, 2007, conspired with and aided one Victor Keyamo, an ex-comvict, to export 3.3 kilograms of cocaine.
They were also alleged to have on July 9, 2007, at their residence, Plot 729 Atere, Omole Estate, Ikeja, Lagos, without lawful authority, possessed and stored 33 grams of cocaine.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the businesswoman told the court how her husband deserted her and her three kids, when he got the hint that the NDLEA is looking for him, after the arrest of Victor Keyamo, who has completed his jail terms on the alleged offence.
The businesswoman, who was led-in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Uja John, said: “on July 9, 2007, i was in the room when the operative of NDLEA stormed our residence looking for my husband. I was later told that someone arrested at the airport a day earlier, mentioned my husband name as the person that gave him the drug.
“And upon searching our home, a substance which they said was hard drug was found, and when I could not produce my husband, I and the kids were taken to Airport Command of the agency. I was detained for 90 days, while my kids were released later. After my stay in detention, I was charged to court alongside Victor Keyamo, my husband was nowhere to be found”.
However, while being cross-examined by the lawyer to her husband, Mr. Bamidele Ibironke who told her that she gave a contradictory evidence against her husband because she was hurt due to the incident that happened between them. The businesswoman said: “I was not hurt, and there was no dispute between us.
“When the incidence happened, he abandoned us, he took off and never showed up. We were homeless, no food, I was taken the kids from house to house, school fees was not paid.
“I remembered when I called his lawyer to call him to bring school fees. I had no home, shoes, he deserted us”.
When asked if their marriage has been dissolve in traditional way. The businesswoman said: ” her husband can’t show up in our family because of his drug case “.
The businesswoman, while also being cross-examined by the prosecutor, Mrs. Iwuchukwu Ahaji, told the court that she did not know the content of the bag neither did she know the content of bag which her husband told her to give to Victor Keyamo (ex-convict)
She added that she don’t have access to her husband room as she did not have the key, as that was why the NDLEA operators broke the door and discovered the hard drugs.
Justice Idris, has adjourned the matter till September 28, for adoption of parties’ written addresses.
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