Ahmadu Giade

NDLEA to appeal court judgment on accused
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said on Wednesday that it would appeal the judgment of a Federal High Court, Lagos, which discharged and acquitted a suspected drug baron.
The Chief Judge of the court, Justice Dan Abutu, had on Tuesday ruled in favour of the accused, Onochie Ikenna, who had been standing trial since 2006 over the illegal possession of cocaine and heroin.
He held that the NDLEA failed to prove its case against Onoche beyond reasonable doubts.
However, the NDLEA, in a statement by its Head of Public Affairs, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the agency was ``still studying the judgment and would take the necessary line of action in appealing the decision’’.
It said the agency’s Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, was also displeased with the judgment and also ``strongly believed that the NDLEA had a good case to pursue it to its logical conclusion.
The accused was arraigned on Jan. 31, 2006 on a three-count charge of illegal possession of cocaine and heroin and the concealment of the proceeds from the illicit business.
The charge was reduced to two, expunging the money laundering charge.