Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has summoned three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an alleged N3.7 million bribe allegedly demanded by them from a convict.
The three operatives: Quatu Mohammed (CSM), an investigation police officer (IPO) simply identified as Sanni and the Lagos State commander of the NDLEA, Umar Isa Adoro were all ordered to appear before the court to defend themselves against the allegation made against them by convicted drug dealer, Fatima Hassan.
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Hassan had claimed that the operatives demanded the money from her with the promise of setting her free, which she said they failed to do.
The convict was arraigned before the court and accused by the NDLEA of a two-count charge of unlawful dealing in 33.5 kg of cannabis sativa, popularly called marijuana.
The anti-drug agency had maintained that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act.
She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with an option of a N1 million fine.
But while reviewing the facts of the case, the defence lawyer, Oke Ojakovo, had objected to the tendering of the monetary exhibit, the sum of N3.7 million, which the prosecutor, Lambert Nor, had told the court was proceeds of an illicit crime.
Following the controversy, Justice Aluko directed the convict to enter the witness box to give evidence on the status of the money.
In her testimony, the convict alleged that an officer of the NDLEA asked her family to bring N3.7 million to secure her bail. “My family brought N3.7 million, and he did not release me. My family members are in court.”
In a bench ruling, Justice Aluko ordered that the monetary exhibit should be deposited in the bank by the deputy chief registrar of the court in an interest-yielding account until further directives.
He held, “I order that the persons mentioned in the course of the proceedings, that is, Quatu Mohammed (CSM), officer Sanni the (IPO) and Umar Isa Adoro (ACGN) Lagos State Commander of the NDLEA, shall appear in court at the next adjourned date, to explain what they know about the circumstances surrounding the N3.7 million.
“The case is adjourned to October 11 for further proceedings on the issue surrounding the alleged monetary exhibit.”