A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, ordered the remand at the Ikoyi prisons, of five accused, charged with illicit drug deal.
The accused, Joseph Akpe, Gabriel Fokito, Edward Zuta, Ameri Atotafe, and Celestine Azanrete, all residents of Badagry in Lagos, were ordered to be remanded in prison by Justice Mohammed Yunusa following their arraignment on a three-count charge bordering on the offence.
They were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).
They however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following an application for remand made by the prosecutor, Linus Nor, Justice Yunusa ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, pending ruling on their bail application.
He adjourned the case to June 27 for ruling.
Earlier, the prosecutor, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 27, at Badagry in Lagos.
He said that they conspired to import about 1020.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, alias Indian hemp, from Ghana, through the Nigerian territorial waters, into Nigeria.
According to the prosecutor, the accused were eventually apprehended by Custom Officers, who later referred the case to the NDLEA for prosecution.
The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.
The offence of drug trafficking could attract up to a term of life imprisonment if convicted.
