Arik crew-member charged to UK court over alleged drug possession!

ARIK Air crew-member, Temitayo Daramola, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrate Court charged with possessing cocaine with a street value of £600,000, during the airline’s Lagos to London flight on the evening of Monday, May 20.

Daramola was arrested by UK Border officials on airport shuttle bus used to transport aircrew members after the plane had landed at Heathrow Airport.

“The first hearing was on May 22 at Uxbridge Magistrate Court and she was in court today via video link,” one male staff disclosed. Before her case is transferred to a Crown Court where she will face a jury trial, Daramola, 37, will make one final appearance before magistrates at the same court on June 4.

Home Office Press Officer, Simon Alford, also confirmed to The Guardian Tuesday that Daramola would be in court on June 4. In a statement he sent following The Guardian’s enquiry, he revealed that Daramola was in possession of six kilogrammes of cocaine and that the colleague arrested with her had been released without charge.

Titled: “Air stewardess charged over Heathrow cocaine seizure”, it stated that “An air stewardess has been charged following the seizure of around six kilos of cocaine at Heathrow Airport. It is estimated that the cocaine, if cut and sold on the UK streets, could have had a potential street value of around £600,000.

“37-year-old Temitayo Daramola was later charged with attempting to import a Class A drug. On Wednesday, May 22, she appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates where she was remanded in custody until her next court appearance on June 4. A second crew- member arrested at the same time as Daramola has now been released.”

Another member of the court, a lady, told The Guardian: “It will be a live video link hearing. There will be a link to the court from her prison. She can listen to the hearing and make her statements. You will be able to see her on the screen, but she will not be physically in court.” When asked what would happen next after next Tuesday’s hearing, the lady responded, saying: “She will be committed to a Crown Court and there will be a jury trial,” due to the nature of the offence. When asked who would represent her then, The Guardian source replied: “I don’t know. She doesn’t have a legal aid,” which would have entitled her to a solicitor.