‘Unlawful detention’: Court orders NDLEA to Produce businessman in court

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce a Nigeria businessman, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Abdulraheem, in court over alleged unlawful detention. Justice Daniel Osiagor made the order sequel to a motion filed and argued by the counsel to the applicant Mr Adebayo Onifade who said […]

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce a Nigeria businessman, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Abdulraheem, in court over alleged unlawful detention.

Justice Daniel Osiagor made the order sequel to a motion filed and argued by the counsel to the applicant Mr Adebayo Onifade who said that the businessman had been in the custody of the anti-narcotic agency since October 18, 2023.

He also asked the court to declare that his arrest and detention since the 18th day of October, 2023 without charge is unlawful, unconstitutional null and void. And for order releasing him from the custody of the Respondent forthwith.

The businessman who is the Managing Director of Kaother Abdussalam Hasan Establishment Limited in the suit marked FHC/L/CS

“The Applicant has not committed any offence. He does not deal in illicit drugs and was not found in possession of any illicit drugs or substances.

“The Applicant is being detained pending when one of his customers by name Ayo Felicia who requested and used the Applicant’s services to secure visa, accommodation and travel arrangements of three women who were arrested in Saudi Arabia with suspected hard drugs, is apprehended and arrested.

“The Applicant is an accredited and International Agent and Consultant involved in the procurement of visas, accommodation and travel arrangements of intending pilgrims for Umrah and Hajj Operation.”

The detained businessman in an affidavit in support of the suit deposed to by his wife, Raheema Abdulraheem, states that the applicant is an accredited and International Agent and Consultant involved in the procurement of visas, accommodation and travel arrangements of intending pilgrims for Umrah and Hajj Operation.

She stated that in the course of the recent Umrah and Hajj Pilgrimage, the applicant had about 88 pilgrims for which he was responsible for their visa procurement, accommodation and travel arrangements. And that of these 88 pilgrims, 10 pilgrims left from the United States of America for the Umrah and Hajj, three Pilgrims left from Canada, Two from the United Kingdom and the remaining 73 pilgrims from Nigeria departed from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja.

She stated that the Applicant was arrested at his office Shop No. A79 NAF Shopping Mall, Local/International Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos on the 18th October, 2023 in the presence of his driver and Personal Assistant. And that upon his arrest, his premises was searched and nothing incriminating was found on him however his Toyota Highlander Vehicle, Samsung fold Phone, Iphone, office documents, an old passport, wristwatch, bag and $2000 USD, were taken away by the agents of the Respondent.

She stated that a search was further conducted in the house of the applicant in the night around 1.30a.m., however nothing incriminating nor any illicit drugs were recovered. Adding that when she visited him in the custody of the Respondent on the 16th November, 2023, the Applicant informed him that he was subjected to interrogations and asked to explain how three of the Pilgrims under his custody came about substances suspected to be hard drugs at Saudi Arabia. And that he wrote a statement in the presence of one of his Counsel shortly after his arrest.