A 49 years-old man, Celestino Kingsley a.k.a. Okafor Kingsley Ikenna, has been convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment, by a Federal High Court, sitting at Ikoyi-Lagos, for illegal export of 9.40 kilograms of Cocaine.
Celestino Kingsley was given the jail-term on Thursday, by the court presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor, after he admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to the two counts charge.
The convict, was arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a two count-charge of conspiracy and unlawful export of the banned substance in a charge marked FHC/L/196c/2023.
The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Augustine Nwagu, contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement A. Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecutor, Mr. Augustine told the court that the convicted man, Kelestino Kingsley, sometimes in March this year, conspired with one Chibuzor Okoye, who is now in the run, to commit the illicit acts.
The prosecutor told the court that the convict was arrested on March 4, 2023, during the outward clearance of passengers Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha, at the New Terminal 11 of the Mohammed International Airport, ikeja, Lagos.
The convict, admitted committed the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges slammed on him.
Upon Celestino’s guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him according to the sections of the NDLEA Act he was charged.
But his lawyer, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.
The lawyer, in particular, urged the court to take into account of his client’s timely guilty plea, a first time offender, and that since his client was arrested, he has turned a new leaf, with promise not to engage in any illegal acts. He consequently, pleaded with the court, to grant his client an option of fine in lieu of the jail-term.
The prosecutor admitted that the convict is a first convict without any previous Conviction record.
Justice Osiagor in his judgment, sentenced Celestino to three years in each of the counts, adding that the jail terms is to run concurrently.
The judge however, gave the convict monetary option of N2.5 million on each of the court, while also ordered that the monetary option is to run consecutively. Meaning, the convict is to pay a total sum of N5 million as option of fine.
Apart From the jail-term and option of fine, Justice Osiagor also ordered the convict to perform four weeks community service, at the Murtala International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
The two counts charge against the convict reads: “That you Celestino Kingsley A.K.A Okafor Kingsley Ikenna, male, 49 years, sometime in March 2023 conspired with Chibuzor Okoye, male (now at large) export 9.40 Kilogrames of Heroin and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Celestino Kingsley A.K.A Okafor Kingsley Ikenna, male, 49 years oid, or about the 4th day of March 2023 during the outward clearance of passengers Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha at the New Terminal 11 of Mohammed International Airport, ikeja, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of honourable Court without lawful authority exported 9.40 Kilogrames 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.”
