Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, convicted and sentenced a 24-year-old man, Emmanuel Chekwube, to seven years imprisonment for drug trafficking.
Justice Lewis-Alagoa jailed the Chekwube after he pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of illegal dealing in 56.2 kilograms of Tramadol Hydrochloride, 4.2 kilograms of Nitrazepam and 7 grams of Swinol, a Psychotropic substance similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had accused the convict of conspiracy, illegal storage of restricted drugs, unlawful use of premises to store banned narcotics, and unlawful dealing in narcotics.
The prosecutor, Ms Murine Erondu, told the judge that the convict committed the offence on May 7 in the Amukoko Ijora area of Lagos.
Erondu had also claimed that the offences are punishable under Section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
Based on his guilty plea, Erondu reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several exhibits, such as the defendant’s statement, a Drug Analysis Form, and a Packing of Substance Form.
Also tendered were: remnants of the narcotics, Request for Scientific Aid Form, and a transparent pouch, which were all admitted by the court.
The prosecutor then urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea and the evidence.
The court, accordingly, convicted the defendant as charged.
Before the sentence was handed down, defence counsel Mimido Nyev urged the court to tamper with justice and show mercy to the convict, as he was a first offender and had also turned a new leaf.
After listening to the lawyers, the judge sentenced the convict to seven years on each count, which he said should run concurrently.
The court, however, imposed a N5 million fine instead of a custodial sentence on the convict.
