Trial of Lagos drug baron stalled over ill health

The trial of the alleged drug dealer, Jimoh Sulaimon Olowoidigede, alias Temo, before the Federal High Court in Lagos, was stalled on Monday, due to his ill health.

Temo, who is also known as Godfather and 001, is standing trial for alleged drug trafficking before Justice Deinde Dipeolu.

He is facing six counts bordering on conspiracy, trafficking 704 kilograms of cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud), running a drug trafficking organisation, and money laundering, preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

He was first arraigned before the court on September 25, 2024.

According to the NDLEA, 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.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The prosecution has so far called 11 witnesses in the matter.

On the last adjourned date, on November 1, 2024, the court refused the bail application filed by the defendant.

At the resumed trial of the matter on Monday, the prosecution led by Mrs. Theresa Asuquo and Lambert Nor, announced their appearance, while Benson Ndakara, leading Kate Igbo and Evans Ajoku, appeared for the alleged drug baron.

Asuquo, in her submission, told the court that when her co-prosecutor,  Lambert, went to find out about the defendant, they were told he was produced, only to be told a different thing in court.

Following Asuquo’s submissions, an official of the Correctional Centre  Mr. Martin Odu, informed the court that the defendant was sick and that he iwa on admission in the facility’s clinic, hence he was not brought to court.

After the explanation by a correctional centre official, on the state of health of the defendant, the judge gave a copy of the defendant’s medical report to the prosecutor.

She then urged the court to adjourn the trial till Tuesday, as it had earlier fixed three days for the trial of the defendant.

Meanwhile, the defendant’s counsel, Ndakara, informed 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 did not have the facility to treat his client.

Ndakara also informed the court that he had filed another bail application and the same had been served on the prosecution, but there was no counter yet.

In his reply, the prosecutor told the court that they had yet to be served and that they were vehemently opposing the application.

Following the parties’ submissions, the court adjourned the matter till Tuesday, for the continuation of trial.