A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed August 4, 2016 for the re-arraignment of a South African woman, Lerato Lekganyane, who was caught with 1.21 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Lekganyane was said to have been apprehended on May 20, 2016 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to transport the illicit substance out of Nigeria.

The prosecuting counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Augustine Nwagu, had told the court that Lekganyane acted contrary to Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The accused had earlier been arraigned and pleaded guilty to one count pressed against her by the agency, after which Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned till Tuesday for review of the facts of the case and sentencing.

The prosecutor, however, informed the court on Tuesday that he needed to amend the charge sheet as Lekganyane’s accomplice, a Nigerian, had also been arrested and brought to court.

He said trying Lekganyane and the Nigerian accomplice would ensure smoothness of the trial.

Defence Counsel, Lilian Omotunde, however, opposed Nwagu’s application for an adjournment, insisting that the prosecutor should proceed to review the facts of the case as earlier scheduled.

But Nwagu urged the court to grant him the adjournment, saying it would be neater to try the two accused at the same time.

In a short ruling, Justice Kuewumi said the prosecution was entitled to the right to amend its charge if it wished.

He adjourned till August 4, 2016 for further proceedings.