Man Bags 10 Years Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, convicted and sentenced a 35 year old Ivory Coast-based Nigerian, Grou Bi Clauvis to 10 years imprisonment for unlawfully dealing in 1.205 kilograms of methamphetamine, a prohibited drug.
The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, handed down the verdict after Clauvis, also known as Umeme Fabian Lotachukwu pleaded guilty to a one count charge of unlawfully dealing in narcotic brought against him by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to the NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, the convict was arrested on March 27, 2017, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during outward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight to Doha, Qatar, with 1.205 kilograms of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, is contrary to, and punishable under section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act. Cap. N30, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
While reviewing the fact of the case, the prosecutor told the court how the convict was arrested with an Ivory Coast international passport with the said substance and $400 United State Dollars.
He also tendered before the court, the results of test analysis on the drugs, his confessional statements and sample of the drug, which were admitted as exhibits.
After reviewing the facts of the case and admitting the exhibits, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
But the convict’s lawyer, Prosper Ojakovo, pleaded with the court to be lenient in sentencing his client, as he is a first time offender, and promised not to engage in such act if granted a second chance.
In sentencing the convict, the presiding judge said, “I have taken into consideration that the convict is a first time offender, and also a young man.
” I am mindful of section 11 of the NDLEA Act which is mandatory, but I am going to vary it. It is of the public knowledge that the prison is full and he is a young man.
“The convict is hereby sentence to 10 years’ jail term or option of N10 million”.
Justice Olatoregun also ordered the NDLEA to forfeit the Ivory Coast international passport to the government of Ivory Cost, while also ordering NDLEA to forfeit the sum of $400 USD found in his possession to the Federal government of Nigeria, and that the money should be paid into the federal government account with Centra Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
