Nigerian Chinedu charged with drug offence

Nigerian businessman Antony Chinedu at the Milimani Chief Magistrate court on April 15, 2013. PHOTO / PAUL WAWERU 

By Vincent Agoya
Posted  Monday, April 15  2013 at  12:33

Nigerian businessman Antony Chinedu was on Monday charged at the Nairobi Chief Magistrate’s court with a drug related offence and will spend two days in police custody pending investigations.

The prosecution said Mr Chinedu was on Saturday found in possession of paraphernalia used in preparing narcotic drugs in Nairobi’s upmarket Kileleshwa estate at around midnight.

A second charge stated he declined to open the door to his house when Anti-Narcotic Police came calling.

The suspect denied both charges and complained that the police confiscated his passport and other travel documents which are unrelated to the offences before the court.

The court heard that Mr Chinedu was found with two digital weighing scales used in the underworld drug market.

“He was also found with small packaging plastics and special adhesive,” Police Prosecutor Onesmus Towett told the court, adding that the materials are used in connection with preparation of drugs.

The prosecution contends that the materials are illegal under section 5 of the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act. (READ: Anthony Chinedu seized with suspected drugs)

“He refused to open his door to police officers who had introduced themselves and informed him of their intention to search the house thus failing to comply with lawful direction given by the police officers," Chief Inspector Towett said.

“There are mandatory drug procedures yet to be finalised in connection with this case, this is just a holding charge as the process is not cleared yet,” Mr Towett said.

Magistrate Kiarie Waweru rejected an application for bail saying the prosecution had laid down “reasonable circumstances” for further holding of Mr Chinedu and granted the prosecution two days to complete investigations. A mention was set for April 17.

Mr Chinedu shot to the limelight two years ago when he successfully blocked his deportation and lodged property cases against his estranged wife Joyce Akinyi.

He was arrested at his house in Kileleshwa on Saturday when Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) officers raided the premises.

Detectives have said they will apply for Mr Chinedu’s deportation based on the weekend's arrest and past cases.