Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman to 18 months imprisonment for smuggling 48 grams of Cocaine into Nigeria for the sum of N1.5 million.
Justice Aneke also ordered that the sum of N4.4 million belonging to the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The 43-year-old convict was arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the said prohibited drug.
The prosecutor, Julian Imabong-Iroabuchi informed the judge that the convict was arrested on January 17, 2022, at the ‘E’ Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airways flight from Brazil through Addis—Ababa to Lagos, with the drug which he Ingested.
Mrs. Imabong-Iroabuchi also informed the court that the defendant conspired with an alleged drug baron, Obi Nonso, domiciled in Brazil to commit the alleged illicit act.
The prosecutor further claimed that the defendant received the sum of N1.5 million, for the service rendered through his sister’s Access Bank Account Number: 0024517899.
The convict had initially pleaded not guilty but he later changed his plea to guilty during his trial, a development which made the court call on the prosecutor to review the facts of the case.
Justice Aneke after listening to the lawyers sentenced the Convict to 18 months from Friday on each of the five counts.
The judge, however, gave the convict an option of a N1 million fine, instead of jail terms.
He also directed that the excreted seized drug be destroyed after 90 days if there is no appeal against the judgment.
Justice Aneke further ordered the final forfeiture of the Convict’s N4, 413, 110.03, domiciled in Access Bank, account number 0024517899 to the federal government of Nigeria.
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