Lagos Court Sentences Businessman To 10 Years Imprisonment For Cocaine Trafficking

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A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced
a 38-year-old man, Chibueze Onedigbo, to 10 years in
prison for drug trafficking.

Mr. Oneigbo, a businessman, was arraigned by the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,
on a one-count charge of drug trafficking on August
29, 2013.

The judge, Musa Kurya, said the sentence was in line
with the sentencing guideline recently released for
Federal High Court judges.

“I have considered all the above, and I am of the view
that the prosecution has discharged its burden of proof.
“I have listened to the plea for leniency by the accused,
and have taken into consideration all that has been said.
In any case, the court is duty bound to sentence the
accused having found him guilty.

“Moreso, the court is guided by the sentencing guideline
recently released for Federal High Court judges.
“Consequently, I hereby sentence the accused to 10
years imprisonment, from the day of this judgment.
“The drug exhibits in custody of the NDLEA are to be
destroyed within 30 days, if there is no appeal against
this judgment”, the judge said.

The convict had previously pleaded not guilty to the
charge and was granted bail in the sum of five million
naira with one surety in like sum.

The NDLEA prosecutor, Linus Nor, had told the
court that the convict was arrested on April 7, 2013, at
the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

Mr. Nor said that about 210 grammes of cocaine was
recovered from the convict during the outward
clearance of passengers on board a Qatar airline flight.
He said the convict had concealed the drug substance in
a black leather bag and was thereafter, handed over to
the agency for prosecution.

According to him, the offence contravenes the
provisions of Sections 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap
N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

NAN reports that the offence of drug trafficking could
attract up to a term of life imprisonment if found guilty.

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