Court Remands Two Businessmen Over Alleged Drug Trafficking

Two alleged drug barons, Okpara Paul Chigozie and Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, has been remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) over alleged drug dealing and trafficking.

The two men were remanded on Monday, by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos, after they pleaded not guilty to a six count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful dealing and trafficking in large quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine.

Both Okpara and Chigozie were arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Deinde Dipeolu, by the legal/Prosecution Department of the national Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday.

Arraigning the defendants in a charge marked FHC/L/651c/2925, the prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, a Commander of Narcotics, told the court the defendants committed the offences on July 13, 2025.

He told the court the that the two defendants conspired together deal and traffick in 9.4 kilograms of Cocaine and 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine.

The prosecutor further told the court that the second defendant, Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, was arrested with the drugs at one AP Filling Station around Ilasamaja along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, while transporting the drug in a white coloured Toyota Sienna vehicle with Registration Number FST 677 JD.

He also told the court that the first defendant, Okpara Paul Chigozie, was arrested with 1.1 Kilogrames and 900 grams of Methamphetamine at his residence 72, Michael Ojo Street, Isheri Osun, Ejigbo, Lagos State.

He told the court the that the actions of the two defendants, are contrary to 14 (b); 11 (a) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The two defendants, however denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Based on their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for trial date and prayed the court to remand them in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).

The defendants’ lawyer, Dennis Warri, informed the court that he had filed the defendants’ bail application and same has been served on the prosecution. But the prosecutor told the court that the bail application has not been brought his attention.

Based on the parties submissions, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter to August 19, 2025, for hearing of the bail application.

The judge however ordered that the two defendants be remanded in NCoS custody, pending hearing and determination of their bail applicaltion.

Charges against the defendants read: “That you Okpara Paul Chigozie and Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi both Male, Adults on or about the 13th July 2025 conspired to traffick in 8.3 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug, and you thereby both committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Orug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you, Opara Paul Chigozie and Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi and i both Male, Adults on or about the 13th July 2025 conspired to traffick in 900 grams of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control, and you thereby both committed an act which Is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of tha National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004

“That you Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi Male, Adult on or about the 13th July 2025 at AP Filling Station Araa of ilasamaja, along the Apapa Oshodi Expressway, Lagos State without lawful authority trafficked In 8.3 Kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug by transporting the said drugs in a white colored Toyota Sienna vehicle with Registration Number FST 677 JD, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004

“That you Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi Male, Adult on or about the 13th July 2025 at AP Filling Station Area of llasamaja, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos State without lawful authority dealt in 900 grams of Methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control, by transporting the said drugs in a white colored Toyota Sienna vehicle with Registration Number FST 672 JD, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi Male, Adult on or about the 13th July 2025 July 2025 at No. 72, Michael Ojo Street, Isheri Osun, Ejigbo – Lagos State without lawful authority death in 1.1 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you Okpara Paul Chigozie Male, Adult on or about the 13th July 2025 at No. 72, Michael Ojo Street, Isheri Osun, Ejigbo – Lagos State without lawful authority dealt in 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance under international control, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”