Widow bags prison term for unlawful export of 5.7kg Codeine, option of N300,000 fine
Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday convicted a widow, Adewunmi Taiwo Atinuke, over unlawful exportation of 5.70 kilograms of Codeine.
Adewunmi Taiwo Atinuke who resides at number 35, Olatunji Street, Ojota, Lagos, was convicted by Justice Akintayo Aluko, after she pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful exportation of the prohibited drug, preferred against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, the convict was arrested with the prohibited drugs on July 27, 2023, at Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Export Shed, a Customs Point/Area of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the examination of cargoes to the United Kingdom (UK).
Abu told the court that the convict’s action, contravened Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The widow pleaded guilty when the charge was read to her.
In view of her plea of guilty, the court granted the prosecutor’s request to review the facts of the charge and tender all exhibits recovered, which were admitted by the court.
Thereafter, the prosecutor Mr Abu Ibrahim urged the court to convict and sentence her in accordance with the sections of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, 2004.
But her lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara in his allocutus, pleaded with the court to be lenient in sentencing the convict.
Ndakara said: “She has not wasted the time of the court, no criminal record, she is remorseful, she is a widow with a son. She is a victim of circumstances.
“Upon the death of her husband, she lost her job, she started exporting good to UK, until there was a demand for cough syrup.
“It was at the point of export, when she realized that it was prohibited and she pulled it from the load
“We urge the court to award monetary sentence on her and non-custodian sentence.
“We urge the court to grant our request and award monetary fine.
The prosecutor also confirmed to court that the convict has no evidence of previous conviction known to the NDLEA
The prosecutor also applied to court for the destruction of the drug exhibits after the period of appeal.
Justice Aluko In his judgement after considering all mitigating factors in favour of the convict, sentenced her to six months imprisonment.
However, the judge ordered her to pay a fine of N300, 000, in lieu of the jail-term. He also ordered the convict to perform a community service in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, for one week, two hour per day.
The judge further ordered the convict to provide a guarantor, who will provide surety, to pay a fine of N100, 000 should the convict escape.
