Man Bags 6 Years Jail-Term For Trafficking In 1.300kg Of Cocaine
Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Lagos Federal High Court, on Friday, convicted and sentenced a 34 year-old man, Chukewudi Destiny, to six years Imprisonment for trafficking 1,300 kilograms of Heroin.
Justice Faji also ordered the Nigerian Immigration Services to confiscate the convict’s international passport and not to issue another to him until the nation’s presidential grant him prerogative mercy.
The judge ordered that the convict’s jail term commenced from April 10, 2021, when he was arrested.
The convict was brought before National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a count-charge of unlawful export of 1, 300 kilograms of heroin.
The prosecutor, Juliana Imabong-Iroabuchi, told the court that the convict was arrested on April 10, 2021, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during outward clearance of Ethiopian Airways passengers at the screening point, with the prohibited substance, which he Ingested but excreted after was apprehended.
He told the court that the offence committed by the convict, is 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.
The Convict had pleaded not guilty to the allegation when he was first arraigned.
At the resumed hearing of the charge on Thursday, the prosecutor presented her three witnesses and told the court that she was ready for the trial.
However, the convict, having seen the witnesses brought to court by the prosecutor, signified his intention to change his plea, which was granted his request and the charge was read to him.
Upon reading of the charge, the convict pleaded guilty, and the prosecutor was called upon to review the facts of the charge, Justice Faji adjourned till Friday, for sentencing of the Convict.
At the resumed hearing of the charge for the Convict’s sentence on Friday, his Counsel, Chief Lilian Omotunde, in her allucutor, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing her client.
Chief Lilian particularly pleaded with the court to give the convict an option of fine in lieu of custodian sentence. Adding that her client had became remorseful since he was arrested and promised not to engage in crime.
However, Justice Faji, in his judgment held that the Convict’s change of plea was after thought, upon sighted the witnesses called by the prosecutor.
Consequently, Justice Faji sentenced him to six years Imprisonment without an option of fine.
In addition to the custodian sentence, the judge ordered the Nigerian Immigration Services, to confiscate the Convict’s International passport and never to issue him a new one except if pardoned by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Charge Against The Convict Reads: “that you, CHUKEWUDI DESTINY, Male, Adult, a citizen of Nigeria 33 years old on or about the 10th day of April, 2021 during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airways passengers at the ‘D’ wing screening point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos to Italy through Addis Ababa, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and without lawful authority exported 1,300 kilograms of Heroin which you swallowed and excreted same in three excretion, and you, thereby committed an offence 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.”