16th August, 2010
A Taiwanese Fong Chiu Sen and Wang Richard, a Chinese and their three Nigerian collaborators, Inua Mohammed, Iziala Kingsley and Godswill Asonugha alleged to have conspired to import cocaine into Nigeria, were this morning arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
In a four-count criminal charge filed before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Assistant Director of Legal Services, J. Y. Gima, it was alleged that Fong Chiu Seno and Wang Richard between the months of March and July 2010 at Ibadan and Kano in Nigeria, without lawful authority, conspired to import 450.4 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria from the Republic of Chile thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
In count two, it was also alleged that the two suspects on or about 22 July, 2010 at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos without lawful authority imported 450.5 kilogramme of cocaine from the Republic of Chile into Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
It was further alleged that Iziala Kingsley, Godswill Asonugha, Inua Mohammed, on or about 22 July, 2010, conspired together to aid Fong Chiu Sen and Wang Richard to import 450.4 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria from the Republic of Chile and therefore committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count 4 reads: “That you, Inua Mohammed, Iziala Kingsley and Godswill Asonugha on 22 July, 2010, at Tin Can Island, Lagos, aided Fong Chiu Sen and Wang Richard to import 450.4 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria from the Republic of Chile and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The NDLEA Director of Legal Services, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, while urging the court to adjourn the matter for trial, the lead defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, leading five other lawyers, did not oppose the application but told the court he had filed a bail application on behalf of his clients.â€
He further told the court that he has also filed a reply to a counter-affidavit filed by the NDLEA prosecutor.
Ndakara therefore urged the court to fix a date for the hearing of his bail application.
The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, while adjourning the matter till 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 September, 2010 for accelerated hearing, adjourned till Wednesday, 18 August, 2010 for the bail application to be argued.
—Akin Kuponiyi