The trial of the former Vice Chairman of Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Sakiru Kehinde Asekun, who was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi on June 30, 2021, for trafficking of Cocaine commenced on Thursday.
Two officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Anebi Ajihma and Okwunjor Augustine, who are the agency’s forensic expert and exhibits keeper respectively, testified before presiding Judge Ayokunle Faji.
At the resumed hearing of the case, the two witnesses, while being led in evidence, narrated the roles they played in arresting the former Council boss.
The Exhibits keeper, Okwunjor told the court how the seized drug was handed over to him for well and save keeping, while the Forensic Expert, Anebi, told the court how he carried out scientific test on the seized drug and confirmed it to be cocaine. The two witnesses also tendered several documents, which includes samples of the tested drug which were admitted by the court as Exhibits.
Justice Faji later adjourned till September 21 and 24, for cross-examination of the witness and continuation of trial.
It will be recalled that the former vice chairman was arrested on May 7, 2021, during an outward clearance of passengers on Virgin Atlantic Airlines flight from Lagos to London, Heathrow Airport at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Aiport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was alleged to have conceal the drug in some footwear.
The former Council boss, on or about the 7th May, 2021 during the outward clearance of passengers on Virgin Atlantic Airlines flight from Lagos to London, Heathrow Airport at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Aiport, Ikeja Lagos was alleged to have, without lawful authority exported 1.000 kilogramme of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the said National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004″.
