A 78-year-old freight agent, Akinlawon Alani, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly attempting to export 20.40 kilogrammes of cocaine to Malaysia.
Alani was docked before Justice Akintayo Aluko on a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful exportation of cocaine, and procuring another freight agent to facilitate the shipment by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The agency alleged that Alani committed the offences between June and July 2026 in collaboration with a suspect named Emeka, who is currently at large.
The prosecutor, Arit Okon, informed the judge that the defendant was arrested on July 2, 2026, during an outward examination of cargo scheduled for export to Malaysia at the Customs area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Okon alleged that the defendant conspired with Emeka to export the 20.40kg consignment of cocaine from Nigeria to Malaysia.
He further claimed that Alani procured another freight agent, identified as Yusuf Kabiru Olamilekan, to assist in exporting the prohibited substance.
The prosecutor maintained that the offences violated Sections 14, 11(b), and 21(2)(4)(8) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
Following his plea, Okon urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) pending conclusion of the trial.
However, the defence counsel, Augustine Nwagu, informed the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client and that it has been served on the prosecution.
The prosecutor confirmed receipt of the application.
In seeking bail, Nwagu urged Justice Aluko to admit the defendant on liberal terms, citing his age and alleged ill-health.
He explained that his 78-year-old client had been in and out of the NDLEA clinic while in custody.
Nwagu also asserted that Alani had consistently denied ownership of the cocaine found in the cargo.
He consequently requested that the court allow the defendant to remain in NDLEA custody until the bail application is determined, rather than remand him in a correctional facility.
Justice Aluko, after listening to the lawyers, adjourned the case to September 1 for a ruling on the bail application.
The judge also ordered that Alani remain in NDLEA custody pending the ruling.
The first count alleged that Alani, in June 2026, conspired with Emeka, who is still at large, to export 20.40kg of cocaine from Lagos to Malaysia.
The second count alleged that on July 2, 2026, during an examination of cargo for export at the Customs area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Alani unlawfully exported 20.40kg of cocaine without lawful authority.
In the third count, the defendant was accused of procuring Yusuf Kabiru Olamilekan, a freight agent, to aid in the export of the 20.40kg cocaine consignment.
