by ‘Jola Sotubo
A Pakistani national was yesterday imprisoned for allegedly bringing drugs into Nigerian from Qatar.
Iftikhar Muhamma Arslan was remanded in jail on the orders of the Federal High Court in the state.
Arslan is facing drug trafficking charges after he was caught with the illicit substance at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja.
Leadership reports:
The charge reads: “That you, Iftikhar Muhamma Arslan, male, adult, a Pakistani, on or about the 5th day of April, 2014 during the inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight from Doha, Qatar at the E-Arrival Hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without lawful authority, imported 25.4 kilogrammes of Heroin, a narcotic and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
After the charge was read to him, the accused pleaded not guilty, while the prosecutor, Vembe Emmanuel urged the court to remand the suspect in prison and grant a trial date.
Defence counsel, Benson Ndakara did not oppose the application, while Justice Aneke acceded to the prosecutor’s request.
The judge then adjourned the matter till September 26 for trial.
