PIONEERING Oshiwambo rapper Shikololo has been granted bail of N$10 000 in a case in which he, two Nigerian nationals, and a Namibian woman are facing a charge of dealing in a record quantity of Ecstasy tablets.
The 28-year-old musician, Johannes Felix Shikololo, made a second court appearance before Magistrate Desmond Beukes in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday, following his arrest a week earlier. Shikololo and his three co-accused, Nigerians Peter Uchwe Ugwuang (29) and Madueke Anselem Chikezie (41), and Namibian citizen Emma Mweneni Iitamalo (29), made a first appearance on a charge of dealing in prohibited drugs on Monday last week.They were arrested at a house in Sauer Street in Windhoek North on March 3, when the Police’s Drug Law Enforcement Unit raided the house and allegedly discovered some 1 158 Ecstasy pills under a bed.It is the biggest single quantity of Ecstasy yet confiscated by the Namibian Police.The Police last week estimated that the drugs could have a street value of some N$138 000.Namibian Music Award-winning musician Shikololo, who broke new musical ground in Namibia by creating Oshiwambo-language rap, is claimed to be a tenant who rents accommodation at the Sauer Street property.Shikololo, represented by defence lawyer Esi Schimming-Chase, was the only one of the suspects to request bail on Friday.The State, represented by Public Prosecutor Hitjevi Tjiroze, agreed that the court could grant him bail of N$10 000, with some conditions attached.In terms of those conditions, Shikololo has to report to the investigating officer handling his case each Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, he may not apply for travel documents – he does not have a passport at the moment, the court was told – and he may not interfere with the Police investigation of the case.Shikololo and his three co-accused have to appear in court again on July 11.Shikololo and his three co-accused, Nigerians Peter Uchwe Ugwuang (29) and Madueke Anselem Chikezie (41), and Namibian citizen Emma Mweneni Iitamalo (29), made a first appearance on a charge of dealing in prohibited drugs on Monday last week.They were arrested at a house in Sauer Street in Windhoek North on March 3, when the Police’s Drug Law Enforcement Unit raided the house and allegedly discovered some 1 158 Ecstasy pills under a bed.It is the biggest single quantity of Ecstasy yet confiscated by the Namibian Police.The Police last week estimated that the drugs could have a street value of some N$138 000.Namibian Music Award-winning musician Shikololo, who broke new musical ground in Namibia by creating Oshiwambo-language rap, is claimed to be a tenant who rents accommodation at the Sauer Street property.Shikololo, represented by defence lawyer Esi Schimming-Chase, was the only one of the suspects to request bail on Friday.The State, represented by Public Prosecutor Hitjevi Tjiroze, agreed that the court could grant him bail of N$10 000, with some conditions attached.In terms of those conditions, Shikololo has to report to the investigating officer handling his case each Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, he may not apply for travel documents – he does not have a passport at the moment, the court was told – and he may not interfere with the Police investigation of the case.Shikololo and his three co-accused have to appear in court again on July 11.
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