The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, a Nigerian businessman based in Brazil, over the alleged importation of 6.1 kilograms of cocaine into the country.
Ikechukwu was arraigned on Friday by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in connection with the alleged offence.
The NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant was arrested on June 11, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
According to Ibrahim, Ikechukwu was intercepted during the inward clearance of passengers who arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Brazil through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendant concealed liquid cocaine by soaking it into towels and other clothing.
Ibrahim said the alleged offence contravened Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, Male, Adult, Nigerian on or about the 11th June, 2026 at Gate 2 of the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopia Airline flight from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Lagos without lawful authority imported 6.1 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug immersed/soaked in Towels and other clothing and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” part of the charge sheet reads.
After the charge was read in court, Ikechukwu pleaded not guilty to the allegation.
Following his plea, the NDLEA prosecutor requested a date for trial and asked the court to remand the defendant in custody.
However, Benson Ndakara, counsel to Ikechukwu, informed the court that he had filed a bail application and served a copy on the prosecution.
The court, however, did not allow the defence counsel to move the bail application due to its tight schedule.
The trial judge subsequently ordered that Ikechukwu be remanded in a correctional facility pending September 9, when his bail application is scheduled to be heard.