For alleged used of cocaine, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arraigned a 34 year old Lebanese drug trafficker, Charbel Chalouhi before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge of engaging in the use of cocaine before Justice N.Ayo-Emmanuel. The NDLEA alleged that Chalouhi, on September 10, 2018, at 18, flat BB Simon Akinolu street, Victoria Island, Lagos state, engaged in the use of 1.2 grammes of Cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(d) of the NDLEA Act. The defendant pleaded not guilty the charge read to him.
Following his plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and prayed the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending trial. In his response, defendant counsel, Benson Ndakara prayed the court to allow the defendant continue with the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the NDLEA. He said the defendant is having health challenges as he undergoes surgery as a result of which the Lebanese Consul General in Lagos, out of concern for his life, took concern about the matter and wrote the NDLEA.
Ndakara said that he had contacted the NDLEA on the possibility on converting the present charge, which deals with just 1.2 gramms to counseling, as this is what is proper to do.
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He was arraigned on a one-count charge of engaging in the use of cocaine before Justice N.Ayo-Emmanuel. The NDLEA alleged that Chalouhi, on September 10, 2018, at 18, flat BB Simon Akinolu street, Victoria Island, Lagos state, engaged in the use of 1.2 grammes of Cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(d) of the NDLEA Act. The defendant pleaded not guilty the charge read to him.
Following his plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and prayed the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending trial. In his response, defendant counsel, Benson Ndakara prayed the court to allow the defendant continue with the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the NDLEA. He said the defendant is having health challenges as he undergoes surgery as a result of which the Lebanese Consul General in Lagos, out of concern for his life, took concern about the matter and wrote the NDLEA.
Ndakara said that he had contacted the NDLEA on the possibility on converting the present charge, which deals with just 1.2 gramms to counseling, as this is what is proper to do.
In this article: