By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday sentenced a 58 years old Congolese, Zitou Mampouya to four years imprisonment for attempting to export 27 kg of a restricted drug, Tramadol.
The convict was arrested on March 23, during the outward clearance of goods at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) export shed, of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
He was docked by the National Drug Law Endroxement Agency (NDLEA), on a two count-charge of conspiracy and unlawful exportation of the said narcotics.
After listening to the charge preferred against him by NDLEA, he pleaded guilty.
The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 11(b) and 14(b) of the NDLEA Act. Cap N30 Laws of the Federation 2004.
After his plea the prosecutor, Mrs Juliana Iroabuchi, tendered exhibits before the court, which were admitted in evidence, and thereafter, she urged the court to convict the defendant accordingly.
However, defence counsel, Chief Lilian Omotunde, in her allocutus (a plea for mercy) on behalf of the defendant, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy for the convict, who she said was a foreigner with all his family in Congo.
In his judgement, Justice Ayokunle Faji noted that the menace of drug trafficking, had become rampant in the society, adding that same has damaged the nation’s image.
The court held that it did not believe that the convict was ignorant of the content of the package, having confessed that it was the fourth time he wanted to export same before he was apprehended.
“Consequently, I shall sentence the convict to four years imprisonment, starting from April, 2018.
“I also order that the convict shall be deported back to Congo at the completion of his jail term,” the court held.
According to the charge, the 58 years old convict committed the offence on March 23.
He was said to have been arrested at the NAHCO shed, during the outward clearance of cargoes and consignments to Congo Brazaville.
He was accused of engaging in the delivery and exportation of 27kg of 120mg and 225mg capsules of Tramadol, a psychotropic substance listed in the Second Schedule of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.
