By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A businessman , Ifeanyi Ezeanwu was on Friday sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Federal High Court, Lagos over importation of a container load of Tramadol and other sex enhancing drugs.
Ifeanyi Ezeanwu who was charged to court by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Control (NAFDAC) was convicted and consequently sentenced by JustIce Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari, after a review of the facts of the charge, following a change of plea by the suspect.
He was first arraigned before the court in February 2015, on a one count charge of unlawful importation of the said drugs Aside series of Tramadol tablets imported by the convict, other banned drugs said to have been imported by him include; Ibamol tablet of 50 mg, and Heogra tablet of 150 mg.
According to prosecution, the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous provision) Act Cap. C34 Law of the Federation 2004.
Earlier during first arraignment, the convict had pleaded not guilty, but as the trial progresses, he changed his plea to guilty when the case came up at the last adjourned date. The court then adjourned the case till Friday June 22 for a review of fact and sentence.
While reviewing the facts of the case on Friday, the prosecutor, Mr Umar Shamaki, narrated to court how the convict was arrested by NAFDAC operatives.
The prosecutor also tendered several items which included the convict’s confessional statements, samples of the banned imported drugs, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
After the review, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convict in accordance to Section 3(1) of NAFDAC Act.
Shamaki remindef the court that NAFDAC Act prescribed a payment of N500, 000 fine, or a prison term not less than five years and not more than 15 years.
In her alocutus (plea for leniency) counsel to the convict, Mrs. Vivian Ekwegh, pleaded with the court, to be lenient in sentencing the accused, saying he was a first time offender.
Sentencing the convict, Justice Rabiu-Shagari, held thus: “the prosecution has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, especially, as there is no other way of proving a case than self-admittance”.
Consequently, the judge convicted and sentenced the convict to a term of five years imprisonment from date of arrest. However, the court gave the convict an option of fine of N300, 000.
