A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted bail in the sum of N2 million to the founder and general overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, Rev. Ekwem Ugochukwu, who was found with 40g of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) en route Kenya.
The preacher has his church headquarters in Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu road, Awka, Awka North LGA, Anambra State and two other branches in Lagos and Abuja.
Ekwem was arrested on March 7 during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Lagos to Nairobi.
Justice Daniel Osiagor granted him bail following his ‘not guilty plea to a one-count charge of unlawful export of the banned drug during his March 29 arraignment by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Following the cleric’s plea, NDLEA prosecutor Augustine Nwagu applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand Ugochukwu in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
The defendant’s counsel Benson Ndakara did not oppose the application for trial but contended that a remand order was unnecessary.
Mr. Ndakara notified the judge that he had filed an application for Ugochukwu’s bail and same had been served on the prosecution.
Justice Osiagor admitted the Ugochukwu to bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety.
The surety, the judge ruled, must be a director in a federal or Lagos State Government establishment.
He remanded the defendant in a correctional facility till the perfection of his bail terms and adjourned till June 26 for trial.
