NDLEA Arraigns Brazil Returnee Over Alleged 6.1kg Cocaine Importation

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned a Nigerian man who recently returned from Brazil over the alleged unlawful importation of 6.1 kilograms of cocaine into the country.

According to Ireporter Online, the defendant, identified as Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, appeared before Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday.

The alleged offence reportedly occurred on June 11, 2026, at Gate 2 of the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The prosecution alleged that Ikechukwu was intercepted during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Brazil through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Lagos.

Prosecutor Abu Ibrahim told the court that the suspected cocaine had allegedly been immersed or soaked in towels and other clothing in an attempt to conceal the substance.

The prosecution maintained that the alleged offence contravened Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

When the charge was read to him, Ikechukwu pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Following the plea, the NDLEA prosecutor requested that the court fix a date for trial and order that the defendant be remanded pending the determination of the case.

However, the defendant’s counsel, Benson Ndakara, informed the court that he had filed a bail application and served it on the prosecution.

The lawyer was unable to move the application because of the court’s tight schedule.

Justice Ogazi consequently ordered that Ikechukwu be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing of his bail application on September 9.

The defendant is facing a charge of allegedly importing 6.1 kilograms of cocaine without lawful authority during the clearance of passengers arriving in Lagos from Brazil via Addis Ababa.

The case will proceed with the defendant presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution proves the allegation against him beyond reasonable doubt.