Plan B Forum

A Sydney man facing major drug importation charges claims he is a Nigerian tribal chief and that, rather than importing drugs, he was working undercover with police to stop drug dealing in his community.

In applying for bail today, Maximus Osuamadi told the NSW Supreme Court "I am Chief Maximus Onus Osumadi" - a claim backed up by his solicitor, Mark Rumore.

The 46-year-old was among eight Nigerian nationals arrested in Sydney and Adelaide in April this year following raids by police over the importation of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.

Police allege that Mr Osuamadi was part of a major west African drug syndicate, and that, with the help of an undercover operative, they caught him in the act of attempting to import 500 grams of methamphetamine.

But the south-west Sydney resident told Justice Stephen Campbell today that, far from importing drugs, he was "helping to stop drugs coming into the Commonwealth of Australia" as was his "duty as a leader in the Nigerian community".

Mr Osuamadi said that he had been approached by another Nigerian man called "Ozone" who told him he had just been released from jail on the condition that he help police break up a drug dealing syndicate.

"He cried and asked me to help him ... I agreed," Mr Osuamadi said.

In return for this assistance, Mr Osuamadi claims that he and "Ozone" were promised $25,000 each.

"It wasn't about the money, it was about exposing the evil in the community ... I did what I did for the Commonwealth. I did what I did because I'm a father."

Mr Osuamadi said he then helped set up a drug meeting in broad daylight in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

He claimed that, after receiving his $25,000, police arrested him. He did not say anything about his role in the undercover operation at that point because "Ozone" had threatened to kill him.

"I was in fear for my life," he said.

Mr Rumore told the court that it was an "unusual case" but that his clients' version of events amounted to a defence that entitled him to bail.

But Justice Stephen Campbell said he was not in a position to "resolve the dispute of fact" between Mr Osuamadi's version and the police statement. He refused Mr Osauamdi's application for bail.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/i-am-a-tribal ... z20NTfSe4A