SCNJ 82 at 94 per Uwais CJN, the expression beyond reasonable doubt, certainly does not mean "beyond any shadow of doubt" The prosecution consequently has the burden of proving all the essential elements of the offence in the charge beyond reasonable doubt. It must put forward before the court evidence which is so strong, compelling and convincing that it leaves no reasonable man in doubt as to the guilt of the accused. I will now take each of the ingredients of the offence seriatim to see whether there was proof beyond reasonable doubt. (a)That there was importation of cocaine into Nigeria. The contention of the appellant is that the cocaine found in two out of the three containers must have been planted there by the Joint Tax Force (JTF) of NDLEA and that there was no proof beyond reasonable doubt that cocaine was in the containers imported from Bolivia. The contention was hinged on the fact that the first container was examined in the absence of the owners or their clearing agent and that having found nothing in the container, to justify their suspicion the Respondent then planted the cocaine in the other two containers. With respect the contention of the appellant's counsel is speculative. No doubt for reasons best known to them and not explained at the trial, the Respondent did not follow proper procedure in opening and examining the first two containers. That is why although cocaine was found in the second container no charge was preferred in respect thereof. The evidence before the court is that the third container MSCU 1287231 which is the subject of the charge herein was opened in the -presence of the appellant, the second accused and several officials of the Respondent. In his statement made on 27/1/11 at page 145 of the printed - record, the appellant said: "Today, 27/01/11 at about 11 am, I was taken to tin can port along with Ibrahim, Audu, A Moses. A container with number MSCU 1287231 was opened and some tiles were off loaded from the container. There were also small bags of cement inside the container. When some of the tiles were opened by the officers, I saw some packs inside the tiles the officers told me were hard drugs; they took some sample and tested it and they say is cocaine. The packs were removed and weighed and they say the total weight is 165kg." The appellant by this statement made immediately after the opening and inspection of the container MSCU 1287231,. confirmed that this particular container was opened in their presence. Furthermore, PW4, Hassan Ibn Mohammed an assistant superintendent of narcotics NDLEA testified that on 27/01/11 officers of Joint Task Force of NDLEA, himself and the two accused persons (appellant & 2nd accused Ugwu Geoffrey) went to the Tin Can Island Port where the intercepted container was opened in their presence. Hear him: