The Federal Government has charged Akomolafe Gbenga Michael, a senior immigration officer stationed at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja.
He was charged alongside three others before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos on a nine-count charge of alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession, import, and dealing in forbidden narcotics.
He was accused of trafficking 8 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 7.60 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, or marijuana.
Others charged with the alleged charges with the Immigration officer are Babatunde Micheal Olufemi, a Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) employee, Nwadozie Chris Amaechi, and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril.
The prosecution, Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that the four members of a hard drug gang were caught on May 21, 2024, while attempting to carry forbidden narcotics out of Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
Ibrahim further informed the court that the four men collaborated to perpetrate the alleged crimes with Nwadozie Sunday and Echezona Nwosu, both of whom are in South Africa.
Specifically, Immigration Officer Akomolafe was charged with six counts of conspiracy, unlawful import, unlawful possession, and trafficking in the banned substances, while the trio of Olufemi, who is said to be an FAAN employee, Nwadozie, and Nwosu was charged with three counts of conspiracy, unlawful importation, and possession of the banned drugs.
The prosecution told the court that the four men’s alleged illegal behaviour violated sections 14 (b), 21 (2)(d), and 20 (1)(c), which are punished under sections 11(b) and 20 (2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency behaviour, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, while the other three members of the gang pled guilty, the Immigration officer contested the charges and pleaded not guilty to all of them.
Based on the Immigration officer’s not-guilty plea, his lawyer, Benson Ndakara, argued with the court to admit him to bail under the most liberal conditions.
In his verdict, Justice Osiagor allowed Akomolafe to N10 million bail with one surety.
The judge further directed that the surety be an assistant director-level government official employed by Lagos State or the Federal Government.
The trial was then delayed to November 7, 2024. Based on their guilty pleas, the court convicted and sentenced Babatunde Micheal Olufemi, Nwadozie Chris Amaechi, and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril to four years on each count. The sentence will run concurrently.
The three offenders were also offered the option of paying N2 million fines on each count.