Court Discharges, Acquits Bizman, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna, Of Drug Related Offences

 

 

Justice Deinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has discharged and acquitted a Nigeria businessman, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna, of drug related offences made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Justice Dipeolu cleared the businessman of the offences on Friday, while delivering judgment in the charge marked FHC/L/400c/2023.

In discharging and acquitting the businessman, Justice Dipeolu, after legally examined all the prosecution’s evidence as well as some of the prosecution’s witnesses held that: “the evidence of the prosecution is full of ‘conjured evidence which cannot secure the conviction of the defendant’.

The judge also held that the prosecution failed to link the businessman to all the offences leveled against him.

Justice Dipeolu thereafter pronounced that “the defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the two counts against him.”

The businessman, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna alongside side one Oseni Raheem Babatunde Ayodeji (now a convict), were charged before the court sometimes in 2023, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession of 0.05 kilograms and 2.50 Kilogrames of cannabis Sativa a.k.a. marijuana.

At their arraignment, the businessman was specifically charged on conspiracy and procuring one Sonuga Temitope to possess 0.50 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD.

Prior to the trial of the charge, the convict, admitted committed the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges against him. But the businessman denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and conspiracy, unlawful possession of 0.50 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa.

Upon the businessman’s not guilty plea, NDLEA commenced his and called a total of seven witnesses.

During the trial, the convict who was charged alongside with the businessman specifically told the court that he neither know the businessman nor have any relationship with him.

In the same vein, among other witnesses called by the NDLEA, equally told the court of knowing the businessman.

In defence, the businessman, consistently a d persistently maintained his innocence and denied all the charges against him.

He also told the court that during his arrest and interrogation by the NDLEA operatives who told him that the parcel containing the drug was sent to him, he replied that the parcel did not have his name or phone number.

He also told the court that during his interrogation and when asked if he was expecting any parcel, he responded that the only parcel he is expecting was his missing luggage. Adding that he did not procure for illicit drug.

Upon conclusion of his defence, Nnadi through his lawyer, Dennis Warri, informed the court that the prosecution has failed woefully to establish any of the counts of the charge against him and urged the court to discharge and acquit him.

Delivering judgment on the charge, Justice Dipeolu, after citing series of legal authorites and legally weighed the witnesses testimonies, and z held that there was no any nexus between the businessman and some of the witnesses called by the prosecution

The judge further held that the prosecution was unable to prove the cases against the second defendant (Nnadi), beyond all reasonable doubt. Adding that the evidence of the prosecution is full of ‘conjured evidence which cannot secure the conviction of the defendant’.

Justice Dipeolu thereafter discharged and acquitted the businessman Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna from the two counts charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of cannabis.