Abba Kyari’s Drug Deal: Ukatu Afamefuna Mallison Trial Begins October 6

The trial of Mr. Ukatu Afamefuna Mallison, a billionaire and industrialist, and his worker, Sunday Ifeanyi Ibekwute, who were dragged before Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria, over alleged conspiracy, illegal dealing, trading and possession of  322 kilograms of Tramadol, a banned substance, will begin on October 6, 2022.

It would be recalled that Mallison and his co-defendant, were linked to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, in an alleged N3bn drug deal.

The duo were charged alongside one Pius Enidom, who absconded after he was granted bail, on May 4, 2021, in the charge marked FHC/L/159c/2021, filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

But the judge arrived at the trial date after delivering a ruling on the bail application brought by the defendants.

The billionaire and his worker were admitted to bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in the like sum.

According to Justice Lifu, one of the sureties must be an industrialist, specifically, a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, who must be a landed property owner within the court jurisdiction, while the second surety must be a Grade Level 15 official either in Federal or Lagos State government establishment.

The judge equally ordered the defendants to deposit their international passport with the Court’s Registrar and to also file an affidavit of dual citizenship if they are, adding that they should be reporting to the prosecuting agency, NDLEA every 14 days till the determination of the charges against them.

The Court also ordered that the Court Registrars should verify the bail terms. Mallinson and others were charged before the Court by the NDLEA on a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful dealing, possession, and trafficking of 322 kilograms of Tramadol.

They were alleged to have committed the offence on May 4, 2021, at Ikeja, Lagos State.

The alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Theresa Asuquo, contravene Sections 14(b); 11, and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.