The Accra High Court has ordered prosecutors to expedite investigations in the case involving a Nigerian national, Uchechukwu Chima, who has been on remand for weeks following his arrest in connection with a $2.1 million drug bust.
Chima, 56, is facing trial after operatives from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) discovered 192 kilograms of cocaine and 0.42 kilograms of heroin at his hideout in Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra.
In court on Monday 14th April, 2025, the prosecution, led by Mr. Watson Adama, requested more time to file new charges, citing a recently received report from the Ghana Standards Authority as a key document in the case.
“I have received a copy of the report from the Ghana Standards Authority. In the light of that I pray for the opportunity to file a new charge sheet for the plea of the accused to be taken,” Mr. Adama told the court.
However, the presiding judge expressed her displeasure with the pace of the investigation and chastised the prosecution for the delay.
She cautioned that the continuous remand of the accused without a plea being taken would not be tolerated.
The judge further pointed out that the Narcotics Control Commission has the legal authority to grant the accused bail, implying that his prolonged detention was avoidable.
Defence counsel, Mr. Paul Asigi Abariga, also pushed for the court to allow his client’s plea to be taken based on the existing charges, indicating the prosecution could later amend the charge sheet when ready.
After hearing both parties, the judge adjourned the case to Thursday, April 17, directing the prosecution to file the amended charges without further delay. She warned that any further procrastination could lead to the dismissal of the case.
Background
An intelligence led operation by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, resulted in the arrest of a 56 year old Nigerian, Uchechukwu Chima at Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra.
A search conducted by the NACOC team at the suspect’s hideout uncovered substances suspected to be narcotic drugs. Field tests conducted on the suspected substance proved positive for cocaine and heroin, both narcotic drugs.
The suspected narcotic substances, with a total weight of about 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, are estimated at a street value of Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty United States Dollars (US$2.1 Million).
The suspect, Uchechukwu Chima who has been a target for NACOC for some time now, is noted to be the brain behind some seizures/arrests made by NACOC in the past. NACOC by this seizure and arrest, has taken this substantial quantity of drugs from the street, saving millions of lives of people who would have otherwise perished from abusing these hard drugs.
NACOC remains committed to making Ghana an unprofitable destination for drug trafficking and thus protecting the safety and well-being of all Ghanaians and the international community.
