By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a 53 years old Brazil returnee, Akudirinwa Hilary Uchenna, to two years imprisonment for trafficking in 13.2 kilograms of Cocaine.
The convict has been standing trial before the court since June 6, 2022, when he was arraigned on two counts charge of conspiracy and trafficking in the prohibited substance by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
During the arraignment, the prosecutor, Mrs. Juliana Imaobong Iroabuchi, had told the court that the convict was arrested with the banned substance, on April 9, 2022, during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways from Brazil to Nigeria at the D – Arrival Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.
She submitted that the convict conspired with the duo of Chima and Enyi, who are both residents in Brazil to commit the Illicit acts.
According to the charge the offences committed by the convict, contravened 11(b) and 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The convict had denied the allegations on arraignment and pleaded not to the charge.
Based on his plea, he was admitted to bail with various terms and conditions, but was unable to meet the bail terms, hence he has been in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).
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However, at the resumed trial on Friday, the convict elected to change his plea, hence the court ordered that the charge be re-read to him for his plea to be retaken.
Upon re-reading of the charge, he pleaded guilty to the charges and the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge.
Consequently, Justice Oweibo sentenced him to two years imprisonment.
However the judge gave the convict an option of fine of N3 million while he ordered that the convict’s jail-term begins from when he was arraigned.
The judge also ordered that the sum of N3.352 million, domiciled in Zenith Bank account number 2176669335, which was said to be proceeds of the illicit drug, be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.