Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos today convicted and sentenced a man, Akajiobi Francis, to four years imprisonment, for trafficking in 1. 20 Kilogrames of cocaine.
The convict was given the jail-term after he pleaded guilty to one count charge of trafficking in Cocaine, made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), after his arraignment before the court today.
The prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim had told the court that the convict was arrested with prohibited drug, at the Departure Hall of the new Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Ikeja, Lagos, during the outward clearance of passengers of Royal Air Maroc to Valencia, Spain.
The convict was said to have concealed the prohibited drug inside some footwears.
Abu also informed 9 the court that the unlawful act of the convict, contravened section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And punishable under the same Act.
The convict, however pleaded guilty to the charge, when it was read to him.
Based on his plea, the court ordered that prosecutor to review the facts of the case. And upon reviewing the facts of the case and tendering of exhibits, he urged the court to convict and sentence him based on the convict’s plea and the exhibits tendered.
But counsel to the convicted man, Chief Benson Ndakara, in his allucutus, begged the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, adding that is a first time offender who did not waste the time of the court by allowing the court to go through rigorous process of trial
Based on the allocatus and upon confirming from the prosecutor that the convict was a first time offender, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ordered the Convict to pay a fine option of N2 million in lieu of the jail-term.
The charge against the convict reads: “That you Akajiobi Francis, adult, male, on or about the 25th July 2024 at the Departure Hall of the new Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Ikeja, Lagos during the outward clearance of passengers of Royal Air Maroc to Valencia, Spain without lawful authority Exported 1.20 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug and you thereby committed an act which is 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.”
