A 78 year-old freight agent, Akinlawon Isaac Alani, has been arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before a Federal High Court Lagos, over alleged drug related offences.
The freight agent was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko on the alleged conspiracy, unlawful exportation of 20.40 Kilogrames of cocaine to Malaysia and procurement of a freight agent to facilitate the shipment of the prohibited drug.
The 78 years old man, according to the prosecutor, Arit N. Okon, allegedly committed the offences between June and July this year with one Emeka said to be at large.
The prosecutor had told the court that the defendants was arrested on July 2, 2026, during an outward examination of cargo meant for export to Malaysia at the Customs area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was also alleged to have procured one Yusuf Kabiru Olamilekan, a freight agent, to facilitate the exportation of the 20.40kg consignment.
She told the court that the alleged illegal acts of the defendant contravene sections 14, 11(b), and 21(2)(4)(8) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendant had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Based on his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for trial date, as well prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending trial.
But the defendant’s lawyer, Augustine Nwagu, informed the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and same has been served on the prosecution
The prosecutor admitted being served with the bail application.
In moving the bail application, Nwagu prayed the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal term, on ill-health ground.
He told the court that the defendant has been in and out of NDLEA’s clinic. Adding that his client consistently denied being the ownership of the drug.
He therefore prayed the court to remand his client in the NDLEA’s custody pending the determination of the bail application.
Justice Aluko while adjourning the matter to September 1, for ruling on the bail application, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the NDLEA custody.
Charges against the defendant reads: “That you Akinlawon isaac Alani, male, adult sometimes in june and third, 2026, conspired with one a Emeka now at large to export 20.40 kilogram of cocaine, In the potty drugs from Lagos, nigeria to Malaysia and thereby committed an offence contrary to an punishable other section 14 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Cap N30, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
“That you Akinlawon isaac Alani, male, adult, on or about the 2nd day of July 2026, during the outward examination of cargo for exports to Malaysia, Now four effort she in a custom area of Murtala Mohammed international airport, Ikeja, lagos within the jurisdiction of this honorable court without law for authority exported 20.40 kilograms of cocaine in narcotic drug and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the national drug law enforcement agency, We have entered she laws of the federation of nigerian 2004.
“That you Akinlawon Isaac Alani, male, adult, on the 2nd day of July, 2026, during the outward examination of cargo for export to malaysia?I did not call export shell a custom area of Murtala Mohammed international airport, Ikeja, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court without law for authority procured one Yusuf Kabiru Olamilekan, a freight agent to export 20.40 kilogram of cocaine a Narcotic drug and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21(2)(4)(8) and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.”