Five employees of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) and and a staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) were Thursday arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for allegedly conspiring to unlawfully import 886. 85 kilograms of Tramadol.

The five NAHCO Officials arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, are; Yunana Fidelis, Nyam Gazu Alex, Fasoranti Shola, Adesanwo Temitope and Owoseni Taiwo Temidayo. While the SAHCO staff arraigned with them is, Ifijeh John Mowa.

All the six defendants were arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a five count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession and transportation of the said prohibited narcotic analgesic.

NDLEA prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, while arraigning the defendants, told the court that the first defendant, Yunana Fidelis, on March 14, 2022, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, conspired with one Offor Chukwudi Benjamin (now at large) of M/S A MARC International Limited of No. 201 Idris Lawal Way Amukoko, Lagos, to import the said prohibited narcotic analgesic.

He also told the court that all the defendants unlawfully possesed and transported the said 886.85 kilograms of Tramadol, a Narcotic Analgesic from the E-Arrival wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos to the Personnel Area of the said Airport.

He told the court that the offences committed by all the defendants, contrary to Sections 14 (b); 20 (1)(a); 20 (1) (c)of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 20 (2) (a) of the said Act.

But all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

With their not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Ibrahim asked the court for a trial date, as well urged the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charges against them.

Responding to the prosecutor’s request, lawyers to the defendants, Mr. Benson Ndakara and S. O. Salawu, told the court that they have filed their clients’ bail applications and same have been served on the prosecutor.

Both Ndakara and Salawu therefore urged the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms.

In urging the court to refuse the defendants’ bail applications, the prosecutor told the court that the first defendant, Yunana Fidelis, acted in connivance with Chukwudi Benjamin, who is facing another trial before Justice Abimbola Awogboro, for unlawful importation of 156 kilograms of Tramadol.

The prosecutor told the court that the said Benjamin has now jump bail and failed to turn up for trial.

He also told the court that the first defendant, after committed the offence, ran to another part of the country, but was later arrested when he was called to come and collect money for the job he did.

He therefore urged the court to refuse the bail application and order accelerated hearing of the charge.

Meanwhile, Justice Lewis-Allagoa, has adjourned till May 19, for ruling on the bail application.

The judge also ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of NCOS till the determination of the bail application.