Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a Brazil-based Nigerian drug baron, Christian Anyanwu to four-year imprisonment for trafficking 1.40 Kilograms of methamphetamine, just as convicted and sentenced a 35-year-old freight agent, Fausat Salako four years.
Anyanwu and Salako were first arraigned before Justice Bogoro by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) sometime in May 2023 on a five-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful exportation and non-declaration of assets.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Juliana Imaobong-Irobuchi, had told the court that the offences violated sections 11 (b), 14(b) and 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap no 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The two convicts had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
But after the judge refused bail, the convict changed their plea.
Based on the development, the prosecutor, Mrs. Imaobong-Irobuchi, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered some exhibits, which were all admitted by the court.
While reviewing the facts, the prosecutor told the court that there were aggravating factors against the second convict (Christian Anyanwu).
She told the court that the second convict was not a first-time offender and that both convicts did not plead guilty until their bail was argued and refused.
The prosecutor further told the court that the two convicts lied on oath and that the drugs exhibited were of commercial quantities.
She then urged the court to sentence the convicts to jail, insisting that the use of hard drugs is high in society and many are dying from it.
Mrs Imaobong-Irobuchi further urged the court to consider section 311 (2) (a) (b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 in sentencing the convicts.
But the defence lawyers, Dennis Warri and Kate Igbo, urged the court to be lenient with their clients, claiming they are first-time offenders.
The submissions were vehemently opposed by the prosecutor, who informed the court that the second convict was a serial drug baron and that he was not a first-time offender.
Following the revelation made by the prosecutor on the second convict, Justice Bogoro read the second convict’s additional statement and confirmed that he was a second-time offender.
Consequently, Justice Bogoro sentenced Salako to 4 years imprisonment on the three counts, but she held that the terms shall run concurrently.
The judge, however, gave her N300,000 option of a fine on each count and two months of community service.
But for the Brazil-based drug baron, Christian Anyanwu, the judge sentenced him to four years on counts two, three, four and five, making a total of 16 years imprisonment. But he was ordered to pay a N300,000 fine on count three, with a two-month community service.
