Court Convicts Clearing Agent Over Exportation Of 19.15kg Of Marijuana
A clearing agent, Uche Azubuike, was Monday, convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment for conspiracy and attempt to export 19.15 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa also known as marijuana, by a Lagos Federal High Court.
The court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, convicted and sentenced the clearing agent, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful export of the banned substance, made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The NDLEA through its prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, told the court today, that the clearing agent, a resident of 52, Ireakari Street, Olubode Itele, Lagos State, committed the offences alongside his company, Zubis Freight Agency Limited, a Cargo Handling Company, committed the offences on March 5, 2020, at the export shed of the National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO): a customs point/area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos
Abu told the court the the convict conspired with one Loveth, who is now at large.
He told the court that the offences contravened Sections 14(b) and 11(b) of the NDLEA Act. Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Upon the clearing agent’s guilty plea, the prosecutor sought the permission of the court to call an Exhibit Keeper with the agency, to tender all the items recovered from the convict, in reviewing the facts of the charge, the request which was granted by the court.
To present the fact of the charge, an Exhibits keeper, Mr. Fredrick Atoni, tendered bulk of the banned substance, the Convict’s statement, result of test analysis and some others which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
Upon tendering and admitting of the exhibits, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence the clearing agent as proscribed by NDLEA act.
However, lawyer to the Convict, Uche Okoronkwo, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, put into consideration his earlier plea of guilty, which he said safe the previous time of the Court.
Okoronkwo also told the court that his client, a father of four, is currently battling some health challenges and that he has became remorseful and vowed not to engage in any form of crimes.
The Convict’s lawyer, also urged the court to give option of fine instead of custodian sentence.
The prosecutor, Mr. Ibrahim while responding, to fine option request of the Convict’s counsel, urged the court to make the option a punitive one.
Abu while cited plethora of authorities, also urged the court to wound up the Convict’s company and forfeit the proceeds to the Federal government.
Justice Oweibo, after listened to the submissions sentenced both the clearing agent and his company, Zubis Freight Agency Limited, to two years Imprisonment inn each of the count.
Justice Oweibo however give the Convict and his company an option of N50, 000, 00, on each of the count in lieu of the sentencing.
