'Dealer tried to run down cop'

2005-01-11 22:04

Cape Town - An alleged Nigerian "high flyer" in the drug trade tried to escape arrest by aiming his car at a police officer, and, in another escape bid, injured himself after jumping out a window of his flat.

This was claimed by prosecutor Marcello Steven on Tuesday in Cape Town magistrate's court, where John Mohamed Ouden Udeaja has launched a bail application before magistrate Eric Louw.

Udeaja is charged with dealing in 76g of cocaine.

Sketching Udeaja's background, captain Gus Meyer told the court the 26-year-old had entered into a marriage of convenience with a woman 20 years older than himself, Grace Kunjana, to get a permanent residence permit.

Meyer said Udeaja was self-employed, buying and repairing cars for resale, and used the premises of a defunct car-wash company for his alleged drug transactions.

He had also given the police a false residential address, said Meyer.

Facing attempted-murder charge

He said Udeaja was arrested for drug-dealing in October last year, when 94 units of cocaine were found in his car and a further 200g in his home.

In addition to this, 50g of crack cocaine was found in his trouser pocket.

At the time of his arrest, Udeaja had tried to run down a police officer, and for this he faced an extra charge of attempted murder.

He also faced a charge of trying to escape, for jumping from his vehicle and trying to flee, said Meyer.

Udeaja also had two previous convictions - for trying to leave the country without a valid passport, under the false names of Abimara Udeaja, Jakobus Josob, and Udeaja Obi Molebatsi.

Meyer told the court Udeaja and his wife had been under investigation since 2002 as "high flyers" and the main members of a drug syndicate.

Drugs on the premises

He claimed Udeaja's wife had run the Mandrax side of the syndicate, while Udeaja had controlled the cocaine and ecstasy operation.

Meyer said the incident in which Udeaja had jumped from his first-floor flat window, had taken place in August 2002, when a large quantity of drugs were found on the premises.

The same year, during police observations, Udeaja was photographed with alleged drug dealer Mujiet Daniels, who was in custody on several murder and other charges investigated by the provincial high-flyer task team.

The hearing continues on Wednesday.

- SAPA