By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday, sentenced a businessman, Oscar Ngene, to a term of four years imprisonment, over illegal exportation of prohibited narcotics.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had preferred a two-counts charge against the defendant, bordering on drug trafficking.
Oscar Ngene pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Augustine Nwagu, reviewed the facts of the case before the court, and tendered exhibits in support of his case.
Prosecution then urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea as well as evidences of prosecution.
In his verdict, Justice Aluko convicted the defendant as charged.
In his allocutus, the defendant counsel Dennis Warri prayed the court to be lenient in sentencing the convict. He submitted that the convict is remorseful, pleaded guilty and did not waste the time of the court.
READ ALSO
Senate and Reps to reconcile budget figures after Tinubu’s yacht yank off
UPDATED: NLC, TUC threaten nationwide strike if Imo CP, Barde is not removed
Having listened to the allocutus by defence counsel, Justice Aluko consequently sentenced him to a term of three years imprisonment on count one, and one year imprisonment on count two.
The term of imprisonment are to run concurrently.
Meanwhile, the court also gave the defendant an option of fine of N600,000, including an order of community service to be rendered by the convict, at Eti-Osa Local Government
The community service is to be rendered two days in a week at one hour per day for the next two weeks.
The court held that the international passport of the defendant is to be forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to the charge, the convict was apprehended at the departure hall, terminal 11, of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, during the outward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight to Doha.
The prosecutor said that 11.10kg of hemp and 600g of Tramadol 225mg were recovered from the convict during the clearance.
The offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 11 (b) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Law of the Federation 2004.