Lagos court denies bail to 10 accused in alleged N480bn meth lab case

A Federal High Court in Lagos has denied bail to three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians accused of running a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun State. Justice Akintayo Aluko said some defendants might abscond and evade trial.

The defendants face an 11-count charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The allegations include conspiracy, methamphetamine production and trafficking, as well as acquiring and transporting precursor chemicals used to manufacture the drug.

The NDLEA alleges that the group established a laboratory in a forest at Iloti Village in Ijebu East Local Government Area. It says 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine was allegedly produced there, with an international value of more than 480 billion naira.

Aluko said bail could be refused when reasonable grounds suggested that an accused person might flee, commit another offense, interfere with proceedings, destroy evidence or otherwise undermine justice. He found that prosecution allegations raised in a counter-affidavit had not been effectively denied. Some defendants acknowledged that chemicals had been recovered from them but said the substances had legitimate uses and were unrelated to methamphetamine production.

The judge also rejected arguments based on medical conditions because the defendants had not attached medical reports. He found no evidence that the correctional facility could not provide adequate care. “The application for bail is not well made out,” Aluko ruled, relying on appellate decisions cautioning against bail where defendants may abscond. The criminal case remains before the court.

“

The application for bail is not well made out.