A forensic expert with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Margaret Ogundipe, on Tuesday, gave evidence at the trial of five suspects allegedly involved in the importation of cocaine.
The five suspects, including two foreign nationals, were arraigned on Aug. 16 on a four-count charge before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
They were charged with conspiracy, importation and aiding of importation of 450.5 kg of cocaine, worth N4 billion.
The accused, Fong Chiu Sen Taiwanese, Wang Richard Chinese, Inua Mohammed, Ezeala Kingsley and Godswill Asomugha were arrested by the Agency at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos in July.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court fixed Sept. 24 for hearing of the bail application by their counsel, Benson Ndakara.
At the commencement of trial on Sept 6, the prosecuting counsel, Femi Oloruntoba, presented his first principal witness, Christianus Danlami, an exhibit keeper with the Agency.
The witness had tendered 11 big sacks allegedly containing cocaine, N3.5 million cash and two big brown envelopes as exhibits in court.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Oloruntoba presented the forensic expert who informed the court that she had received a white substance from an official identified as Clement Odeh.
She said analysis confirmed that the substance was cocaine.
The defence counsel, however, raised an objection to the tendering of the report on the grounds that the prosecution did not furnish them with the copy of the report.
But the court overruled on the grounds that the certification of the drug analysis was brought to the notice of the other party 10 days before the court arraignment as required by law.
Justice Abang ordered that the analysis report be admitted as exhibit in the trial and adjourned till Sept. 8 cross examination of the second principal witness by the defence.
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