Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has sentenced a drug baron, Mba C. Ebere, to 10 years imprisonment for attempting to export a banned substance, Methamphetamine, to Malaysia, through United Parcel Service (UPS) Limited.
Justice Olatoregun had on February 4, pronounced the drug baron guilty of one count charge leveled against him by the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and consequently convicted him on the charge.
The convict’s trial commenced before the court sometimes in October, 2012.
During the trial, the NDLEA through its lawyer, Mrs. Obiageri Iwuchukwu, called six witnesses who include: the arresting officer, Investigating Officer, official of United Parcel Services (UPS), a courier company used in exporting the drug, exhibit keeper and others, who told the court in their various evidence on how the convict was arrested.
Obiageri also tendered some exhibits which include sample of the drug, test analysis form, the Courier company’s Airway Bill.
Convicting Ebere, Justice Olatoregun said the prosecution has been able to discharge the burden of proof of the charge against the convict.
Olatoregun also stated that the with all the evidence given by the prosecution witness, she is satisfied that the prosecution has been able to proof the charge against against the accused beyond every reasonable doubt.
Consequently, Justice Olatoregun pronounced the drug dealer as guilty as charged, the judge however, reserve the sentencing of the convict till Thursday.
The convict who was 47 years old when he was arrested, according to NDLEA in charge number: FHC/L/349c/12, was arrested on July 3, 2012, at the Gbagada office of United Parcel Services (UPS), when he wanted to export the drug to Malaysia.
Upon his arrest, he was charged to court on one count charge of unlawful exportation of 280 grams of Methamphetamine.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and admitted to bail by the court.
The charge against the convict reads: “that you Mba C. Ebere, Male, 47 years old on or about the 3rd day of July, 2012, at the Courier Company the United Parcel Service (UPS), Gbagada, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority Exported 280 grammes of Methamphetamine, a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD to Malaysia with Airway Bill No. 1273257A0477356775 and Shipment ID. 73257APY8F4 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable
under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.
