Kemisola Oye
THE continued trial of the alleged drug dealer, Alhaji Jimoh Sulaimon Olowoidigede, popularly called Temo, was stalled today, due to his ill health.
The alleged drug baron, who is also known as Godfather and 001, is being tried before the court presided over by Justice Deinde Dipeolu, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a six-count of conspiracy, trafficking 704 Kilograms of cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud), running of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), and money laundering.
The offences contravened sections 20(1)(g); 14(b); 18(a); 20(i); 11(b) and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
He denied any involvement in the alleged offence and pleaded not guilty.
Sequel to his not-guilty plea, the court has ordered an accelerated hearing of the charges, this is even as the court refused his bail application.
The prosecution has so far called 11 witnesses in the matter.
He was first arraigned before the court on 25 September 2024, on the alleged offences.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the prosecution was represented by the duo of Mrs Theresa Asuquo and Lambert Nor, while Chief Benson Ndakara led the duo of Kate Igbo and Evans Ajoku for the alleged drug baron.
The led prosecutor, Mrs Asuquo, in her submission, told the court that when her co-prosecutor, Mr Lambert, went to find out about the defendant, he was told he would be produced in court only to be told a different thing in court.
Following Asuquo’s submissions, an official of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), Mr Martin Odu, informed the court that the defendant was sick and was on admission to the facility’s clinic. Hence he was not brought to court.
Upon the explanation by NCoS’ official on the state of health of the defendant, and after the presiding judge brought a copy of the defendant’s medical report to the attention of the prosecutor, she urged the court to adjourn further hearing till tomorrow, as the court had earlier fixed three days for the trial of the defendant.
Meanwhile, the defendant’s counsel, Chief Ndakara, told the court that the new medical report was a follow-up to the one sent earlier. He added that from what he saw in the report, even the correctional centre does not have the facility to treat his client.
He also informed the court that another bail application had been filed, and the same had been served on the prosecution, but there had been no response from the prosecution yet.
The prosecutor told the court that they are yet to be served with the application. They, however, restated their opposition to the application.
Based on the parties’ submissions, the court adjourned the matter till Tuesday (tomorrow) for continuation of trial.
Charges against the defendant read: “That you are Jimoh Suleiman Olowoidiogede (a.k.a. “Godfather”, “001”, and “Temo”), male. 57 years old, being the Kingpin, Ojo Emmanuel; Wasiu Olayinka Saliu, Taofeek, Noah and one Kazeem (all at large) between 2020 and 2024 in Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired to form and operate a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) to wit: import. process, traffic and otherwise deal in cannabis sativa, a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD using Managers, Couriers and Associates and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Jimoh Suleimon Olowoidiogede (a.k.a. “Godfather”, “001” and “Temo”) male, 57 years old, being the Kingpin, Ojo Emmanuel, Wasiu Olayinka Saliu, Taofeek, Noah and one Kazeem (all at large), between 2020 and 2024 in Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court and without lawful authority engaged in the organization, management, and financing of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) by the import, process, traffic and otherwise deal in cannabis sativa, a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence as provided for in Section 20 (1)(g) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 20 (2)(b) of the same Act.
“That you Jimoh Suleimon Olowoidiogede (a.k.a. “Godfather”, 001, “Temo'”), male, 57 years old, being the Kingpin, Ojo Emmanuel, Wasiu Olayinka Taofeek Noah and one Kazeem (all at large), between 2020 and 2024 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired to convert the proceeds of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances into ostensible legitimate enterprises and you thereby committed an offence as provided for under Section 18 a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. 2022 end punishable under Section 18 (3) and (7).
“That you Jimoh Suleimon Olowoidiogede (a.k.a. “Godfather”, “001” and “Temo”), male, 57 years old, being the Kingpin, Ojo Emmanuel, Wasiu Olayinka Saliu, Taofeek, Noah and one Kazeem (all at large(:between 2020 and 2024 in Lagos State, without lawful authority engaged in the concealment and disguise of the true source of proceeds of illicit dealing in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to wit: cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud) and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 20 (i) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Jimoh Suleimon Olowoidiogede (a.k.a. “Godfather”, “001” and “Temo”), male, 57 years old being the kingpin, on or about the 11th of November 2020, one Wasiu Olayinka Saliu (now at large) within the jurisdiction of this honourable court and without lawful authority trafficked in 704 Kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud”) a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD from Ghana to Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 1 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Jimoh Suleiman Olowoidiogede (a k.a. “Godfather”, “001”, “Temo”), male, 57 years old on about the 1st of November. 2020 and one Wasiu Olayinka Saliu (now at Large) within the jurisdiction of this honourable court ard without lawful authority dealt in 704 Kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud) a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD, and you thereby committed an offence provided for and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Agency Act Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Jimoh Suleimon Olowoidiogede (a k.a. “Godfather”, “001″ and Temo”), male, 57 years old on or about the 11th of November, 2020 within the jurisdiction of this honourable count procured Wasiu Olayinka Saliu to traffick in cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud) a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and the ing Wasiu Olayinka Saliu was arrested at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos wherein he is charged in the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos in Charge No. FHC/L/320c/2020, and you thereby committed an offence as provided for under Section 21 (2)(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 11(b) of the same Act.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media