A 38-year-old businessman, Nelson Anayo, on Wednesday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged attempt to export 2.3kg of Cannabis sativa to Gabon.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned him before Justice Saliu Saidu on a charge of illegal exportation of the said narcotics.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The NDLEA in a charge marked FHC/L/09c/2020 alleged that the defendant committed the offence on Dec.19, 2019.
The agency said that the defendant was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport during the outward clearance of a consignment belonging to him.
The prosecutor, Mr Agustine Nwagu, said that 2.3kg of Cannabis sativa, popularly called Hemp, was found in the possession of the defendant.
The prosecutor also said that the defendant concealed the drug in a consignment meant to be exported to Gabon.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
After the plea of the defendant, the prosecutor requested his remand in custody until the trial date.
But the defence lawyer, Mr Victor Abana, told the court that he had filed a motion for bail and same had been served on the prosecution.
He, consequently, moved the bail application urging the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms.
Justice Saidu, in his ruling on the bail application, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant with landed properties within Lagos State.
The judge also ordered the prosecution and the court’s registrars to verify the bail terms.
The judge who adjourned trial until March 17 also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Nigerian Custodial Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
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