The Federal Government of Nigeria has arraigned Akomolafe Gbenga Michael, a senior Immigration officer serving at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, alongside three others, on charges related to drug trafficking.
The defendants appeared before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, facing a nine-count charge that includes conspiracy, unlawful possession, importation, and dealing in prohibited substances. They are accused of trafficking 8 kilograms of Methamphetamine and 7.60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.
The prosecution, led by Abu Ibrahim, reported that the four men, part of a hard drug syndicate, were arrested on May 21, 2024, while attempting to smuggle the substances out of the airport. The alleged crimes contravened sections of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act.
While Akomolafe Gbenga Michael, the senior Immigration officer, pleaded not guilty to all charges, his co-defendants, Babatunde Michael Olufemi, Nwadozie Chris Amaechi, and Nwosu Chinedu Cyril, admitted their guilt. Consequently, Justice Osiagor admitted Akomolafe to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety, who must be a civil servant of assistant director cadre in Lagos State or the Federal Government.
Justice Osiagor convicted the trio who pleaded guilty, sentencing them to four years on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently. Alternatively, they have the option of paying a fine of N2 million each per count.
The trial for Akomolafe Gbenga Michael is scheduled to resume on November 7, 2024.
