Two courts in the Lagos division of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, have remanded suspected drug baron, Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, popularly called BarryShine in social circle, over alleged multiple charges on narcotics offence.
The defendant, who is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Barry Shine Suleman Nigeria Limited, was remanded by the courts presided over by duo of Justice Akintayo Aluko, and Justice Daniel Osiagor, after pleaded not guilty to charges preferred against him in four separate charges .
The defendant was arraigned before Justice Aluko on a three counts each in charges marked FHC/L/731c/2024 and FHC/L/732c/2024, respectively.
In the two charges, he is facing the offences bordering on unlawful management and financing and engaging in Drugs Trafficking Organization (DTO) and exporting various quantities of Narcotic Drugs.
He was alleged to have sponsored the dou of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidikat and Wasiu Gbolahan Sanni Teacher, who have been convicted.
He was also alleged to have sponsored alleged drug business of Olarenwaju Ramon Abdulai a.k.a. ‘Alhaji Loyingbo’; Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye a.k.a. ‘Igbono’, ‘Baba Eje’, ‘Ade Iwaya’ ‘Femi Iwaya’; Olumuyiwa Olufemi Ilori a.k.a. ‘Murphy’ and Alate Kafayat Bukky of Kaffy Travels, all said to be at large.
The offences according to the prosecutors, Abu Ibrahim who led Bibiana Anagu, contravened sections 14(b), 21 (2)(d) and 20 (1)(g) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 20 (2) (b) of the said Act.
He denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Based on his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Barrister Ibrahim, asked the court for a trial date. And also urged the court to remand him pending the conclusion of the charges
But his lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, told the court that he was not opposed to trial date as requested by the prosecutor. He however told the court that his client’s bail application has been filed and same has been served on the prosecution.
Upon taking arguments on the bail application, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter till November 1, for ruling on the bail application, while fixed January 20, 2025, for commencement of trial.
The judge however ordered the remand of the defendant in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending determination of the bail application
The defendant, Barryshine, in the two separate charges of four counts each, marked FHC/L/687c/2024 and FHC/L/688c/2024, filed against him before Justice Osiagor led-court.
In the two charges, he was arraigned alongside the dou of Aikhomoun Daniel a.k.a. Olarenwaju Oladapo and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, who he was alleged to have procured to trafficked 1.022 Kilograms of Cocaine and 662 Grams of Cocaine respectively.
He was also alleged to be running a Drug Trafficking Organization DTO.
The defendants were alleged to have committed the infractions on or before June 21, 2024.
The offences, the prosecutor, Barrister Bibiana Anagu who was led by Barrister Abu Ibrahim, said to be contrary to 14(b); 21 (2)(d); 11(b) and 20 (1)(g) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And punishable under sections 11(b) and 20 (2)(b) of the same Act.
While the dou of Aikhomoun Daniel a.k.a. Olarenwaju Oladapo and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, pleaded guilty to the allegations against them, Barryshine pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Based on the guilty plea of Aikhomoun and Ayigoro, coupled with the allucutor made by their lawyer, Bolanle Kolawole, they were sentenced to six and five years imprisonment but ordered to pay the sum of N3 million and N2.5 million as fine option respective.
Justice Osiagor, after taken arguments on Barryshine’s bail application, admitted him to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.
The judge also ordered him to pay a cash sum of N4 million, into the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) account, as part of the bail conditions.
Justice Osiagor while adjourning the trial of the case to February 23, 2025, ordered that the delivery be remanded in the NCoS’ custody, till fulfilling the bail terms.
