By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday convicted and sentenced two drug dealers Mr Chukwuemeka Emmanuel and Mr Amanambu Kingsley to 5 years jail term each for conspiracy, importation and dealing in 8, 200 kilograms of cough syrup with codeine without lawful authority.
However, the trial judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko gave the convicts option of N2million fine each in lieu of prison term, to be paid into the consolidated account of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Chukwuemeka Emmanuel and Amanambu Kingsley were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a three-count amended charge dated 29th of July, 2024 which bothered on conspiracy to import, importation and dealing in 8,200 kilograms of cough syrup with codeine, a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD.
According to the amended charge marked FHC /L/554c /24, the two men with others at large were said to have on or about June 10 ,2024 at Comfort Oboh Estate, Kirikiri, Apapa Lagos , within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, conspired to import the aforementioned drug.
Besides the conspiracy to unlawfully import the prohibited drug, they imported it and dealt in it without lawful authority.
According to the charge, the offence committed by the duo contravenes Sections 14 (b); 11 (a); 11 (c) and 20 (2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishable under the same Act.
After listening to the charge read to them, the duo pleaded guilty to the three counts.
In view of the guilty plea, the prosecution applied for review of the facts of the case.
After reviewing the facts, the prosecutor tendered sample of the drug which was analysed and tested positive to codeine, drug analysis sheet and results of the test, statements of the convicts, cartons containing packs of the syrup etc.
They were admitted as exhibits by the court. The prosecutor urged the court to convict the duo as charged.
After going through the facts as reviewed by the prosecution, evidence tendered and admitted and in addition to the guilty plea of the defendants, Justice Aluko found them guilty as charged.
In the plea for mercy, the defence counsel urged the court court to tamper justice with mercy, that the convicts have regretted their actions and are remorseful.
“They pleaded guilty without wasting the precious time of the court.”
The defence counsel urged the court to consider non-custodial sentence, preferably an option for fine.
After listening to the allocutus of the defence counsel,
perused the facts of the case and exhibits before the court, Justice Aluko sentenced each of the two convicts to 5 years imprisonment on the three counts or N2million each as follows; N1 million for count 1 and N500k each for counts 2 and 3 respectively.
Count 1 reads : “That you Chukwuemeka Emmanuel ‘m’ 48 years and Amanambu Kingsley ‘m’ 38 years, and others at large on or about 10thof June, 2024, at Comfort Oboh Estate, Kirikiri, Apapa Lagos within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, conspired to import 8,200 kilograms of cough syrup with codeine , a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishableunder Section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
In counts 2 and 3, the duo “without lawful authority imported and dealt in 8,200 kilograms of cough syrup with codeine”.