By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis Allagoa on Monday convicted and sentenced a lady drug trafficker, Evelyn Nweka Okom to two years imprisonment or payment of N500,000 as fine.
Evelyn Okom had on Thursday last week pleaded guilty to a two count charge of illegal possession of 10.012 kilograms of Methamphetamine before Justice Allagoa upon her arraignment by Mr Umar Hussaini of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
Following her guilty plea, the NDLEA prosecutor Umar Hussaini applied for an adjournment to enable him review the facts of the case and Justice Alagoa while acceding to the prosecutor’s request for adjournment, deferred the matter till today (Monday) for review of facts, conviction and sentencing.
At the resumption of the matter on Monday, the prosecutor called his only witness and after listening to the evidence of the prosecution which was not controverted by the defense or the defendant herself, Justice Allagoa convicted the defendant and sentenced her to two years imprisonment on each of the two counts or in the alternative, payment of N500,000 fine on each of the counts.
Justice Alagoa however, held that the two years imprisonment should run concurrently and same for the option of fine.
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has charged Evelyn Nweka Okom a Nigerian lady for allegedly conniving with one Esimone Amachukwu Christopher (a.k.a Amaco) who is her boss and associate in the illicit drug business, Kalu Anayo Joseph and Anube Uchenna said to be at large.
They were alleged to have on or about the 1st of March 2024 at No.14, AROCHUKWU STREET, UNION ESTATE, EJIGBO, Lagos, without lawful authority , conspired to possess 10.012 kilograms of METHAMPHETAMINE , a controlled substances.
According to the charge,the offense committed by Okom is said to be contrary to the United Nations Single Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs 1961 and its Protocol and Convention Against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances 1989, thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
When the case up before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa last week , the prosecutor, Mr Umar Hussaini informed the court that the prosecution has a two count charge pending before the court and pleaded that the charge be read so that the defendant can take her plea.
The defendant’s counsel, E. Okeinyi submitted that while he is not opposed to a trial date, he pleaded with the court for a short adjournment and for the defendant to remain in the custody of the NDLEA pending the review of facts.
The two counts amended charge reads :
*That you EVELYN NWEKA OKOM, female, Adult, Nigerian citizen and one ESIMONE AMACHUKWU CHRISTOPHER a.k.a AMACO who is your boss and associate in illicit drug dealings, now at large and KALU ANAYO Joseph Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen now at large and one ANUNIBE UCHENNA Adult, Male, Nigerian citizen also at large on or about the 1st day of March, 2024 at No. 14 AROCHUKWU STREET,UNION ESTATE, EJIGBO, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court without lawful authority, conspired to possess 10.012 kilograms of METHAMPHETAMINE substances, a controlled substances contrary to the United Nations Single Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs 1961 and its Protocol and the Convention Against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic substances 1989, thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (as amended).
That you EVELYN NWEKA OKOM, female, Adult, Nigerian citizen on or about the 1 day of March, 2024 at No. 14 AROCHUKWU STREET,UNION ESTATE, EJIGBO, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court without lawful authority, found and arrested in possession of 10.012 kilograms of METHAMPHETAMINE substances, a controlled substances contrary to the United Nations Single Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs 1961 and its Protocol and the Convention Against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic substances 1989, thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30 Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 (as amended).