The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted the request of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to remand for 14 days, an alleged drug baron, Sulaimon Jimoh popularly known as ‘Olowo Idi Ogede’.
The court also ordered an Interim attachment to the Federal Government of Nigeria, a grey-coloured Mercedes Benz SUV GLE belonging to the alleged drug baron, being a proceed of illicit drug dealing in Cannabis Sativa pending the determination of this case.
Justice Akintayo Aluko gave the orders while granting an application filed and argued by a deputy commander in charge of the prosecution and legal services of the NDLEA in Lagos, Lambert Nor.
In urging the court to grant the agency’s remand request of the alleged drug baron, Nor told the court that the application was pursuant to Sections 6 and 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended); Section 293 of the Administration Of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; Sections 3(c), 31(a) 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 and 46 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30 LFN 2004; Order 26 Rules 8 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
The NDLEA listed the following grounds for the orders sought: “that the suspect, Sulaimon Jimoh alias ‘Olowoidiogede’ a.k.a. ‘Temo’ is a wanted high profile drug baron who is in control of the cannabis drug trade in the whole of the West Africa Region.
“That several tons of the drugs of the suspect had been seized over the years and the Suspect had always managed to escape arrest.
“That there is a need to pursue other diverse aspects of the case by way of extensive investigation. That it is necessary to have legal custody of the suspect and the items seized from him in order not to violate his rights
“That it is a statutory and procedural requirement. And that there is a need to vest proper custody of the vehicles in the Agency pending the conclusion of the investigation/trial. That this honourable court has unfettered discretion to grant the orders sought.”
After listening to the submission of the NDLEA lawyer, and perusing all the processes filed before the court, Justice Aluko cited a plethora of authorities before granting the orders sought.
He adjourned to August 9, 2024, for the report of further investigation.
The 57-year-old Temo was arrested on Monday by the operatives of the NDLEA in the Mushin area of Lagos.
The agency said this was after an initial resistance from him and his horde of hoodlums.
“A reinforcement of about 50 operatives was immediately mobilized to the area while he was attempting to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 marked 01G-300G,” the agency said.
“His attempt to escape by mobilizing hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives however failed after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered to the superior firepower of the anti-narcotic agents who also succeeded in recovering the Mercedes Benz SUV the suspect was found in.”
