6 days Ago By Onozure Dania
A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted bail in the sum of N50m to 61-year-old Fayisare Opaleye, who is standing trial for alleged trafficking of 1.5 tonnes of cannabis sativa. Justice Musa Kakaki, in a ruling delivered on Monday, ordered that the defendant produce three sureties in like sum.
The judge held that one of the sureties must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 16 in the service of the Lagos State Government, and must not currently be acting as surety in any other case. The court further directed that the two remaining sureties must be owners of landed property situated within Lagos. Justice Kakai added that the Lagos State Land Registry and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency are to verify the authenticity of the title documents.
Additionally, the defendant was ordered to deposit her passport with the court, while each surety must submit two passport-sized photographs and provide evidence of tax payments for the last three years. Opaleye was arraigned last month alongside a co-defendant, 41-year-old Abideen Adio, on a three-count charge of trafficking and unlawful possession of 1,540 kilograms of cannabis sativa, cocaine, heroin, and others. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges after their arraignment.
Related News Lagos strengthens position as Nigeria’s technology nerve centre Minister, Sanwo-Olu unveil Elumelu’s 50-bed medical facility in Lagos Court orders Navy to recognise disengaged officer as Vice Admiral Kakaki at the time declined to grant bail, but remanded them at the Correctional Centre and ordered an accelerated trial. However, Opaleye’s counsel, Benson Ndakara, filed a fresh bail application last week on health grounds, urging the court to consider her age and deteriorating condition. Following arguments from both the defence and the prosecution, led by Mr B.
S. Usman, Justice Kakaki granted bail to the first defendant on Monday. The prosecution alleged that Opaleye and Adio conspired to traffic 1,540 kilograms of cannabis within Lagos State on December 31, 2024, Usman said Opaleye knowingly possessed the said quantity of cannabis at her residence on Adebayo Oyewole Street, along Ago Palace Road, Okota, without lawful authority.
Furthermore, Adio was accused of unlawfully transporting the same narcotics within Lagos State. According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 14(b), 19 and 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act..
