A Federal High Court in Lagos has given the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) permission to demolish a purported N480 billion methamphetamine laboratory that was discovered in Abidagba Forest, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Despite opposition from three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians who are on trial for allegedly establishing the plant and producing methamphetamine, trial judge Justice Musa Kakaki gave the go-ahead on Friday.

However, Justice Kakaki ordered the NDLEA to keep some contested compounds that the defendants had identified for use in the trial.

Buhari Abdullahi, the NDLEA's attorney, contended that the application was required for public health and safety reasons, claiming that the covert laboratory presented significant health and environmental concerns.

He informed the court that NDLEA officials were exposed to dangerous chemicals during their more than two-month stay at the location.

He recalled that on July 22, the judge had personally inspected the laboratory and noted that due to the hazardous atmosphere, all visitors were required to wear face masks and other safety gear.

Even defense counsel had to take safety precautions during the inspection, according to the prosecutor, and he had to leave the site due to an allergic response.

Benson Ndakara, the defendants' attorney, objected to the application, calling it premature and detrimental to the defense. He maintained that the purported methamphetamine and other materials that were being sought to be destroyed were important pieces of evidence in the current trial and ought to be kept until they were submitted and accepted as exhibits.

Following the parties' hearing, Justice Kakaki approved the NDLEA's application but prohibited the organization from destroying some of the contested compounds that the defense had identified.

Source