After spending 200 days in the detention facility of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), billionaire industrialist, Mr. Afamefuna Mallison Ukatu, was on Friday released on bail.
The industrialist has been in detention since April 13, 2022 following his arrest by the NDLEA over unlawful trafficking in 322 Kilograms of Tramadol.
Ukatu, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mallison and Partners, was released on bail at the weekend after fulfilling conditions approved by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Lifu.
Lead Counsel to the billionaire businessman, Victor Opara, SAN, while confirming the release of his client, commended the NDLEA for obeying the court directive granting Ukatu bail.
Opara said the action of the NDLEA has proven that the agency is a law abiding organisation, adding that Ukatu was released at about 4:00pm on Friday.
According to him; “I can confirmed to you that Mallinson Ukatu has been released and has reunited with his family. There is a lot of happiness going on in the family at the moment.
“Recall that he was rearrested and detained after being granted bail by the Federal High Court, but the NDLEA kept him.
“We applied to the NDLEA Chairman for bail on behalf of our client chronicling a legion of reasons why he should be let go having been admitted previously to bail by the Federal High Court, Lagos.
“We also politely and constructively engaged the NDLEA and them that Mallison Ukatu is not a flight risk and will attend court and face trial. The NDLEA Chairman, Brig-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), reviewed our application and was favourably disposed to same.
“He consequently directed that my client be admitted to NDLEA administrative bail. I commend and salute this exemplary display of effective leadership initiative. It is truly worthy of commendation.
“We must thank the Chairman of NDLEA for considering our application and towing the path of justice and respect for human right.
Commenting on allegations of Ukatu maintaining 103 accounts and N20b allegedly frozen, Opara said he has not seen any court order to that effect, adding however that he is aware that some of his account have been restricted for the cause of NDLEA usual investigation.
In the words of Opara; “I don’t know anything about N20 billion and the 103 accounts. I have not been served with any court process. But, I can tell you authoritatively that no such order has been served”.
Mallinson, who was detained since April 13th, 2022 was arraigned at a Federal High Court, Lagos on a three count charge of unlawful trafficking in 322 Kilograms of Tramadol in a charge no: FHC/L/159C/2021 and was granted bail by Justice Lifu on July 22, 2022 but directed that he should be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending when he will perfect his bail conditions. The bail conditions were eventually met on October 12, 2022 and released but the NDLEA shattered his hope of going home as they rearrested him at the court premises.
