By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone, Edwin Uwa Ogbonna a Nigerian national on Thursday, 7 November, 2024, was again arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on ten counts charges to Kidnapping contrary to law, three counts ranging from possession of prohibited drugs without lawful authority on three count charyes ranging from dealing in prohibited drugs without lawful authority and three count ranging from used of prohibited drugs.
According to the particulars of offence on Tuesday 20th August 2024 at Alusine Street, New Road Juba Hill the Western Area in Freetown kidnapped Monsuru Abayomi Balogun
Count two revealed that on the same date and place the accused person were found in possession of loosed quality of cocaine without lawful authority
Counts mentioned that on the same date and place the accused person were found in possession of one sachet containing loosed quantity of kush without lawful authority
Count four stated that on the same date and place the accused were found in possession of one sachet containing loosed quantity of cannabis sativa without lawful authority.
Count five, six and seven further stated that on the same date and place the accused person were found Dealing in Kush, cannabis sativa and Cocaine without lawful authority
Count eight, nine and ten furthered that on the same date and place the accused person were found using a prohibited drug Kush, Cocaine and cannabis sativa without lawful authority
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person No plea was given
The Counsel representing the accused person Zachariah Azibo Kanu applied for bail on behalf of the accused person that he is not a Sierra Leonean but resident in Sierra Leone as the accused has credible sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognisance on his behalf. He noted that if the accused person was put on bail he will appear in court on every adjournment date and will not interfere with the prosecution witness or witnesses. The bail application was made pursuant to section 79 (2) of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965
Meanwhile, Magistrate Kekura refused bail base on the seriousness of the offence and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown.
However, the case has been adjourned to the 12 of November, 2024, for further hearings.
