Businessman Bags 4 Years Jail-term For Attempting To Smuggle 29.6 Kg Of Cannabis To UK

Businessman Bags 4 Years Jail-term For Attempting To Smuggle 29.6 Kg Of Cannabis To UK

A businessman, Okoli Collins Ikenna was today convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment for attempting to illegally export 29.6 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa also known as marijuana to London, United kingdom.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, convicted and sentenced the businessman, after he changed his plea.

The businessman had earlier denied the two counts charge of unlawful export of the banned substance, made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) 

But at the resumed trial of the Businessman today, he signified his intention to change his plea on the two counts charge.

Following his change of plea, the prosecutor, Augustine Nwagu, reviewed the facts of the charge before the court. And upon reviewed the fact of the charge, the prosecutor asked the court to convict the businessman as well as sentence the accordingly.

However, counsel to the businessman, Mr. Dennis Warri, in his allucutor, pleaded with the court to tamper Justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

He particularly begged the court to consider the option of fine instead of custodian sentence.

He pleaded with the court to also consider that the defendant did not waste the time of the court.

Responding to Warri’s request, the prosecutor, Nwagu, asked the court to discountenance such request on the ground that the businessman is still having a pending criminal case, handing on his neck.

Justice Aluko, after listened to both counsel and submissions made, sentenced the businessman to two years Imprisonment in each on the counts. 

The judge ordered that the jail term will run concurrently and to commence from the day he was arrested. Adding that the drug recovered from the convict be returned to NDLEA for destruction if there is no appeal against the judgment.

The convicted businessman was arrested on October 21 and November 2, 2022, during the examination and clearing of cargo for DHL Cargo flight to London at NAHCO Export Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

The offences are contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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