Hard Drugs Smuggler Jailed 6 Years
A hard drugs smuggler, Amobi Okoye, was Friday convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment, by a Federal High Court, Lagos.
Amobi, a resident of Zone B, Block 13, Flat 6, Iba Estate, Iba Lagos, was given the jail terms by Justice Jude Dagat, who pronounced him guilty of count-charge of unlawful export of 1.030 kilograms of cocaine.
The convict, whose trial lasted for six years, was arrested sometimes in 2014, at the departure hall of Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during outward clearance of Alitalia airline flight to Italy.
The drug, Cocaine was said to have been discovered in his stomach at the Screening Point 2 of the airport.
He was charged to court on a count charge of unlawful export of the said banned drug.
The offence according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Juliana Imaobong Irubochi, contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and he was accordingly admitted to bail.
During the convict’s trial, the prosecutor called nine witnesses and tendered 12 exhibits.
Parts of the exhibits tendered and admitted by the court includes; the convict’s two Nigerian-ECOWAS International passports; sample of the drug; an Alitalia E-ticket; boarding pass; the bulk of the seized drug, his confessional statements and others.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the convict also testified in his defence against the charge.
Delivering judgment in the charge today, Justice Dagat held that the prosecution has successfully proved its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge also held that the defence put up by the defendant was not strong enough to free him from the change.
Justice Dagat, said in establishing the charge against the defendant, he admitted being promised of $4, 000USD, if he successfully delivered it to one KC in Italy.
Consequently, Justice Dagat convicted and sentenced him to six years. The judge also ordered that the jail terms start counting from today.
The judge also ordered that the convict’s passports be forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria and that the drug be destroyed if there is no any appeal.
Charge Against The Convict Reads
“That you Amobi Okoya Male Adult on or about the 7th day of February 2014 during the outward clearance of Alitalia Airline flight at the screening point 2 of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, lkeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, exported 1.030 Kilogrammes of Cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.
