Justice Saliu Saidu, of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a middle aged-man, Sunday Ndubueze Okoli, to two years imprisonment, for attempting to export 3.075 kilograms of cannabis Sativa, also known as India hemp outside the country.
The convict pleaded guilty to one count charge of the offence levelled against him by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In arraigning the convict, the prosecutor, Mr ichakpa Oigoga, told the court that the convict was arrested on January 19, 2016, at the NAHCO Export Shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to package it for export.
He told the court that the offence committed is contrary to section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. Cap. N30, the law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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The convict pleaded guilty to the charge.
His lawyer, Victor Ababa, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, as his client is a first-time offender and that the court should consider its precious time that the convict did not waste, following his instate guilty plea to the charge.
After listening to the counsel submission, Justice Saidu, sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment, commencing from today.
In the same vein, the Judge ordered the remand of two drugs dealers, Ubah Collins Obinna and Manu David, who also bears Ezekam David Kenechukwu, in the facility of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS)
NDLEA arraigned the duo for unlawful dealing in 440 grams of Methamphetamine, a banned substance similar to cocaine and heroin.
NDLEA prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, told the court that they were arrested on December 19, 2019, at Sea Side Hotel, Satellite Town, Lagos.
Mr Abu also told the court that during investigation and interrogation, it was discovered that Ubah procured Manu also called Ezekam, to export the banned drug to an Asian country.
He also told the court that the said Manu was arrested with 440 Grammes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during outward clearance of Qatar Airline Flight to Doha, Qatar, without lawful authority.
Abu told the court that the offences committed by the two drugs dealers contravened sections 11(b), 14 (b) and 21 (2) (d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 11(b) of the same Act.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the offences.
Following their not guilty plea, their lawyer, Mr Victor Abana, told the court that he had filed an application for their bail and same has been served on the prosecution.
The prosecutor, Abu, while confirmed being served with the bail application, however, told the court not to grant the application on the ground that one of the defendant, Manu, is a flight risk, as he carries foreign passport.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Saidu, in his ruling, admitted each of the defendants to bail in these sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum each.
The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation to the defendants with landed property on Lagos and the second surety must be Grade Level 14 officer in the appointment of federal or Lagos State governments.
Ruling on their bail application have been adjourned till March 30, 2020.
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