A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today granted permission to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to further detain the owner of Adekaz Hotels & alleged drug lord, Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammad also known as Alhaji Ademola Afolabi Kazeem Afolabi or Adekaz, in its custody, for another period of 15 days.
The court presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor, extended the remand order, while granting an exparte motion filed and argued by the NDLEA’s lawyer, Mr. Abu Ibrahim.
In urging court to extend the remand order, Mr. Abu said that the request was made pursuant to sections 35(1)(c), (4), (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 3 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; Order 26 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the court’s inherent Jurisdiction.
The counsel also told the court that the Agency was seeking the orders on the grounds that a detailed investigation was necessary in the
case and the NDLEA will need an extended time outside the constitutional period of detention of the respondent, as the investigations will extend to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He further told the court that the respondent was declared wanted by the court in relation to the allegations against him and in connection with the seizure of 900 grams of Cocaine ingested by an alleged drug courier, Bolujoko Muyiwa Babalola, who had named Adekaz as the owner of the drugs and as such, the hotelier is reasonably believed to be involved in drug trafficking and money laundering of drug proceeds.
After listening to the NDLEA lawyer, Justice Osiagor, ordered the NDLEA to remand the respondent in its custody for another 15 days.
In a related development, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Lagos Federal High Court, has ordered the remand of one Darlinton Chisom Oketum, till the conclusion of his investigation and prosecution on money laundering allegations.
The suspect was accused of laundering the sum of N5 million, for a Pakistani drug courier, Asif Muhammed, who was recently arrested with 8 kilograms of Cocaine.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted the remand order, after listening to the originating ex-parte motion filed and argued by the NDLEA’s Abu Ibrahim.
The NDLEA lawyer while moving the Exparte application, the affidavit in support and the written address, told the court that the grounds for the application was to enable the agency to keep the respondent in detention for the purpose(s) of a detailed investigation, as the applicant will need to extend her investigations to the respondent’s place of residence in Umuahia, Abia State.
He also told the court that his agency will need a prolonged time outside the prescribed constitutional period of detention, as the investigations to be embarked upon also has some international dimensions and the Agency will require up to 30 days in the first instance.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after hearing the NDLEA lawyer, granted the application to remand the respondent till the conclusion of investigations and prosecution.
