The Federal High Court in Ibadan on Friday remanded two Mexican nationals and four Nigerians to Agodi Correctional Centre. They are standing trial for alleged membership in a drug trafficking cartel and operating an illegal drug laboratory.
The two Mexicans are Jose Ochoa and Carrera Arturo, while the Nigerians include Bankole Owolabi, Ganiyu Monsiu, Yusuf Akanbi and Maxwell Nevoh.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned the defendants on a four-count charge of conspiracy, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, as well as possession of chemical substances.
The NAN reports that the defendants were accused of establishing an illegal laboratory factory for the production of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.
Justice Nkeone Maha ordered the defendants to be remanded at Agodi Correctional Centre after they pleaded not guilty.
Justice Maha also directed the prosecuting counsel, Mr Adekunle Adebajo, to serve the proof of evidence on all defence counsel.
She theShe then adjourned the case to January 26, 27, 28, and 29 for the commencement of trial.er, counsel for the NDLEA, Adebajo, informed the court that the defendants conspired to establish a laboratory in Lagos and Oyo States.
He stated that the defendants, without lawful authority, allegedly produced methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.
He further alleged that the defendants transported and distributed materials at various locations in Lagos and Oyo States to manufacture 1.260 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.
He alleged that on June 17, at Tapa Village in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State, the defendants, without lawful authority, manufactured 1.260 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.
He stated that the offences occurred between December 2025 and June 2026 at various locations in Lagos and Oyo States.
Adebajo said that the offences were punishable under Section 14(b),20(2)(a) and 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel requested that the court remand the defendants to Agodi Correctional Centre and sought an adjournment.
Counsel for the first defendant, Mr Echeme Ekeghe, informed the court that his client, Ochoa, is diabetic and requires medical attention.
Ekeghe stated that a formal application regarding the place of remand would be filed.
Mr Benson Ndakara, counsel for the second defendant (Arturo), and Mrs Oreofe Ogunleye, counsel for the third to sixth defendants, informed the court they had no objections to the prosecution’s request for remand.
