Trial Of Catholic Knight, Who Trafficked 2.169kg Of Heroin Fixed For Jan. 17

Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Lagos Federal High Court, has fixed January 17 and 18, 2024, for the trial of Catholic Church knight, Sir Basil Okafor, and cousin, Okwuchukwu Izuchukwu, who who allegedly trafficked in 2.169 kilograms of heroin.

The knight and his cousin, were first arraigned before the court on August 5, 2023, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for trafficking in the prohibited substance.

Justice Osiagor fixed the trial date on Wednesday, by the consent of the prosecutor, Mr. Umar Hussain and lawyer the defence, Chief Benson Ndakara.

Sir Okafor and his cousin, according to the NDLEA, allegedly committed the offence on March 28, 2022, at their residence, 26 Akpomule Street, Isolo-okota Area of Lagos, Lagos State.

The prosecutor, during the defendants’ arraignment on May 18, 2022, told the court the duo without unlawful authority, possessed, dealt and distributed the prohibited drug.

He told the court further that the Catholic Church knight perverted the cause of justice, by obstructing the NDLEA Operatives, who were on official assignment to arrest him in connection to the prohibited drug.

He told the court that during the arrest, the Knight in the course of covering up the illegal act, threw his mobile phone, an iPhone 7*A1661 with IMEI Numbers 3494 7108650649 containing MTN sim card (09036306438) into a toilet water closet.

He told the court that alleged the illegal of the defendants contravened Sections 14(b); 24(b); 20(1)(a) and 49 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004(As amended), and punishable under Sections 20(2)(a) and 20(2)(b) of the same Act.

The defendants have denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.