16th December, 2010
A Lagos High Court has granted bail to a South African Airways manager, Mr. Michael Adebulehin, who was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 500 grammes of cocaine into Nigeria.
Adebulehin was apprehended on 19 November, 2010 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria.
Ruling on a bail application brought by his counsel, Mr. Ajibola Dailley, Justice Bolaji Candide-Johnson held that the detention of Adebulehin by the NDLEA without filing a formal charge was “unlawful and a flagrant violation of his fundamental human rights.â€
“The actions of the officials of the NDLEA in detaining the applicant since Friday, 19 Nov. is an unlawful violation of his right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution.
“The respondent shall immediately release the applicant from custody and a production warrant is to be issued for the purpose of his release,†he ruled.
NDLEA, it was learnt, was not present at the ruling. Adebulehin was arrested after NDLEA agent detained a suspected drug trafficker, Mr. Jinadu Ganiyu,who was allegedly apprehended with 1.500 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Lagos airport on 31 October by NDLEA operatives.
Jinadu had checked-in four bags from Brazil but on arrival in Lagos, only three bags were found. He then reported the missing luggage to the South African Airways, SAA, before his arrest by the NDLEA.
The SAA manager, who claimed that he was not aware that the passenger had been arrested, directed that the missing bag which arrived on 9 November, 2010, be dispatched to Mrs. Jinadu who had made repeated calls to the airline for the controversial bag.
—Simon Ateba
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