NSITF Staff Docked For Alleged Drug Trafficking

An official of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Miss Ekwejunor Oritsematosan, has been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for alleged drug trafficking offences.

Oritsematosan, a Health Safety Environment Officer of NSITF, was arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa’s Court, on a 10 count-charge of the offences by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Arraigning the defendant, the prosecutor, Mr. Lambert Nor, told the court that the defendant alongside her private company, Femaffik Global Services Limited, committed the alleged offences between 2019 and 2023.

He told the court that the defendant alongside one Adebanjo Abraham Olufemi a.k.a Femi Adebanjo, who is now at large, committed the offences at Block 11, Mouse 28, Mobolaji Johnson Estate, Marwa, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Lagos State.

He told the court that the defendants conspired among themselves and formed and operated a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) which is involved in the process, traffic and export of Cannabis Sativa.

He further told the court that the defendant and others now at large, procured and induced Tijani Oladapo Hakeem Male, Eric Makuo, Adaoti Fortune and Ahmed Jubril, who have been convicted by the court to deal in 1. O68 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa.

The prosecutor also told the court how the defendant intended to pervert the course of the investigation, by offering the sum of N2 million agency’s operatives as a bribe.

The prosecutor said the alleged offences committed by the defendant contravened sections 14 (b), 20 (1)(g),18 (2)(b), 11(c), 18 (2)(a), 11(b), 12, 14 (a), 49 (a) and 49 (b)of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. And punishable under sections 20 (2)(b) and 19 (1)(2) of the same Act.

The NSITF staff denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the 10-count charge.

Following her not-guilty plea, her lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, informed the court that he had filed the defendant’s bail application and the same has been served on the prosecutor.

And urged the court to admit bail to his client in the most liberal terms.

In response, the prosecutor, while admitted to being served with the bail application, told the court that the defendant’s counsel served him three different bail applications, which made it impossible for him to know which of the applications to respond to.

He told the court that the rule is that the lawyer must identify the application he intends to move before he responds.

Dissatisfied with the prosecutor’s submission, Justice Lewis-Allagoa asked the defendant’s lawyer to move the bail application.

The judge subsequently, admitted bail to the defendant in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum and among others. While adjourned her trial to November 23.

Count one against the defendant reads: “That you Ekwejunor Oritsematosan female, Adult, of Block 11, Mouse 28, Mobolaji Johnson Estate, Marwa, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Lagos State, Femaffik Global Services Limited of No fixed Address and one Adebanjo Abraham Olufemi a.k.a Femi Adebanjo now at large between 2019 and 2023 in Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court Conspired to form and operate a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO} to wit; process, traffic and export Cannabis Sativa a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD using Counters and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

The 10 count reads: “That you Exwejunor Oritsematosan, female, Adult, of Block 11, House 28, Mobolaji Johnson Estate, Marwa, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Lagos State, Femaffix Global Services Limited of No fixed Address and one Adebanjo Abraham Olufemi a.k.a Femi Adebanjo now at large between on or about the 22nd day of February 2023 in Lagos, Lagos State following due request, without lawful authority failed to comply with a lawful enquiry of authorized Officers of the Complainant and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under section 49 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”