He was dazed, speechless and with his face bowed in agony as he was being led into a prison van by security officials after the court sentenced him 10 years with hard labour by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for drug trafficking.
That was the mood of 31-year-old Onyemaechi Chibuzor, who refused to talk to anybody who wanted to know his feelings; whether he was remorseful or not.
He only continued to shake his head, as tears rolled down his cheeks.
An operative of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the anti-drug agency that charged the convict to court, expressed the satisfaction of the agency on the sentence handed down by the court, stressing that it will serve as deterrent to others who might be thinking of joining in the illicit business.
The NDLEA operative said despite concerted efforts of the agency in its fight against drug trafficking, some hardened criminals still persist in the dangerous business.
The convict was arrested by operatives of NDLEA on December 20, 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, with 600 grammes of methamphetamine during an outward clearance of Emirates Airline flight to Malaysia.
He was charged to court on March 15, 2012, before then Justice Benedicta Molokwu and admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum, having pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However, upon the retirement of Justice Molokwu, the case was reassigned to Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who revoked the bail earlier granted him when he jumped bail in May 22, 2014, during the trial of the case.
During the trial, the prosecutor had called two witnesses, and tendered 14 exhibits which include the convict’s statements, arresting officers’ statements, drug laboratory report, exhibit forms, the seized drug, international passport and other travelling documents, which were admitted by the court.
In her judgment, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia held that the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt by the evidence of the prosecution that the convict actually committed the offence. She accordingly convicted the accused and sentenced him.
The charge preferred against the convict by NDLEA reads: “That you, Onyemaechi Remignus Chibuzor, male, adult, on or about 20th day of December, 2011, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, during the outward clearance of Emirates Airline flight to Malaysia, without lawful authority, exported 600 grammes of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.
