Court Jails Traders 24 Months For Trafficking In 220 Grams Of Cocaine
Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday convicted and sentenced two traders, Okonkwo Victor Chukwuma and Bankole Johnson, also known as Rotimi Adekunle, to 24 months imprisonment, for trafficking in 220 grams of Cocaine.
Justice Rabiu-Shagari handed down the verdict after she found them guilty of a one count-charge of unlawful importation of the banned drug brought against them by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The judge, however, directed that the sentenced will start to count from July 27, 2017 when the convicts were arrested by the NDLEA.
The agency had arrested the two men at the EMS section of Marina Post Office, Lagos Island, Lagos, where they have gone to receive the banned drug.
After their arrest, the convicts were charged before the court sometimes in October, 2017 and they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The offence according to the prosecutor, Adekunle Adebanjo, is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.
During their trial, the prosecutor called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits.
Parts of the exhibits tendered by the prosecutor are: the banned drug, the convicts’ confessional statements, the result of laboratory test conducted on the drugs and others.
In her judgment on Monday, Justice Rabiu-Shagari held that the prosecution proved its case against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt and thereby found guilty them guilty as charged.
While pleading for mercy, the convicts’ lawyers, Anthony Nnamoko and M. Ogunleye urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
The lawyers informed the court that the convicts who are first time offenders, have become sober since they were arrested, and that they have promised not to get involved in such act if given a second chance.
They also urged the judge to consider the ongoing fasting period, a time of forgiveness.
The prosecutor, Adebanjo, also told the court that to his knowledge, the convicts are first time offenders.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Rabiu-Shagari, sentenced the convicts to 24 months imprisonment.
The charge against the convict reads: “That you Okonkwo Victor Chukwuma, Male, Adult, and Bankole Johnson a.k.a. Rotimi Adekunle, male, Adult on or about the 28th day of July, 2017, at EMS/NIPOST Office, Marina in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, jointly imported 220 grammes of Cocaine a Narcotic drug without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014”.
