After almost three months of unlawful detention of Billionaire businessman, Mallinso Ukatu, for alleged importation of banned Tramadol, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has finally produced him before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
This follows application for enforcement of human rights filled before the court by counsel to Ukatu led by Victor Opara, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), challenging the continued detention of his client without charging him to court.
The case suffered series of adjournments before the 8th July 2022 due to the failure of the NDLEA to bring the accused persons to court, since their arrest and detention in the agency’s facilities on April 13, 2022.
It took an order of the Ikoyi court presided by Justice P. O. Lifu, to compel NDLEA to produce Ukatu and other accused persons in the case within two hours on Friday, July 8, 2022.
Mallinson was brought to a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi for the first time by the NDLEA on the allegations of importation of Tramadol worth over N3b, alongside co-accused person, Mr. Sunday Ibekwute.
The duo are being accused by the NDLEA of conspiracy, trafficking in 322 kilograms of Tramadol, unlawful dealing and possession of the said drug.
Mallinson Ukatu and his co-accused were eventually produced in court, and the 4 counts charge was read to them as they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Meanwhile a 3rd accused person, Pius Enidom, who has been on bail for the same charge has been consistently absent in court.
The lead counsel for Ukatu, Victor Opara made legal submissions to the court to grant bail to his client. The Senior Advocate argued that the accusations however severe are mere allegations until proven as the accused is still presumed innocent.
However, counsel to NDLEA T. E. Asuquo strongly opposed the bail application, warning the court that the accused persons were flight risk and the bail application should be refused.
She however submitted that in the event that bail is granted, the court should impose stringent conditions.
The judge adjourned the case to 18th July 2022 for ruling on the arguments and opposition for bail for the accused persons and ordered them to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) Ikoyi.
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