Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has authorised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to destroy an alleged methamphetamine production facility valued at about ₦480 billion discovered in Abidagba Forest in Ogun State.
The order followed an application by the anti-drug agency, which argued that the site posed serious health and environmental dangers due to the presence of toxic chemicals.
The application was opposed by three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians facing trial over allegations of operating the illegal laboratory and producing methamphetamine.
NDLEA prosecutor, Buhari Abdullahi, told the court that agency personnel had guarded the site for over two months under hazardous conditions.
He reminded the court that Justice Kakaki had personally inspected the facility on July 22 and observed that visitors had to wear protective clothing and face masks because of the dangerous environment.
Abdullahi said the request to destroy the factory was based on the NDLEA Act, which empowers the agency to dispose of dangerous drugs and related chemicals.
Defence lawyer, Benson Ndakara, urged the court to reject the request, arguing that the substances remained crucial evidence that the defence needed to examine independently.
He warned that destroying the chemicals before the conclusion of trial could affect the defendants’ right to challenge evidence presented by the prosecution.
After considering the arguments, Justice Kakaki granted the NDLEA permission to destroy the laboratory but ordered that some disputed chemicals should be preserved for the purpose of the trial.
The defendants — three Mexican citizens and seven Nigerians — are standing trial on 11 charges, including conspiracy, illegal production and possession of methamphetamine, running a drug trafficking organisation and unlawful possession of precursor substances.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been remanded pending the conclusion of the case.