Francis Iwuchukwu 
The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko has granted the request of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to further remand the alleged drug lord, Sulaimon Jimoh alias ‘Olowo Idi Ogede’, for another 14 days.
The judge took the decision against the suspected drug lord, also known as Temo, after entertaining an exparte motion filed and argued by counsel for the NDLEA, Lambert Nor, the Legal Officer-In-Charge of the Lagos Command of the agency.
While praying to the court for the extension of the remand of the alleged drug baron, the NDLEA lawyer informed Justice Aluko that the motion was brought under Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Section 296 (1)(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Order 26 Rules 8 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The NDLEA lawyer equally intimated Justice Aluko that the extension order sought is to enable the NDLEA to tie up the several legs of the cases against the suspect in different jurisdictions as responses to the Ietter of investigation on diverse aspects of the cases against the suspect are still being awaited.
In adding that the preliminary investigation revealed a wider and more sensitive network of drug activities, which requires further check and confirmation, Nor notified the judge that the order sought was to have his Legal custody and the items seized from him in order not to violate his rights.
The motion, which the NDLEA supported with a 13 paragraph-affidavit, deposed to by Kayode Abu Ojo, a litigation officer with the NDLEA averred thus: “that the applicant sought and obtained an order of this honourable court to remand Sulaimon Jimoh alias “Olowo Idi Ogede” a.k.a. “Temo” a wanted high-profile drug baron for over ten years in the applicant’s custody.
“That the applicant has complied with the order of this court made on 26th July 2024. And that the applicant now seeks an additional period of 14 days remand of the suspect in the custody of the applicant for the following reasons.
“That is the period of the detention of the suspect Sulaimon Jimoh alias ‘Olowo Idi Ogede’ a.k.a. ‘Temo’ is a wanted high-profile drug baron ordered by the honourable court, there was a nationwide mass protest with attendant security implications which stalled the work of the panel of investigation leading to the loss of a substantial time of the 14 days initial period granted by the court.
“That in the course of the same time, counsel for the suspect was not available for some time to enable the suspect to complete his statement.
“And that by the time counsel for the suspect came, quite a substantial time of the 14 days granted by the court had been lost.
“That ongoing Investigation is revealing a wider and more sensitive network of drug activities of national and international dimensions. And that letters of inquiries forwarded to sister agencies, corporate entities and other relevant bodies in connection with other sensitive aspects of the case of the suspect are still being awaited.
“There is a need to tie up the litany of the cases spread against the suspect in different jurisdictions, to have a complete picture of the Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) run by the suspect for the attention of the court.
“And that it is therefore necessary to have further legal custody of the suspect in order not to violate his rights or the order of this honourable court.”
In his ruling, Justice Aluko held that “the application has merit and the order sought for is hereby granted.”
The judge adjourned until August 23, 2024, for the report of investigation.
