Ladipo Sanusi/
Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, gave a convicted drug pusher, Nwosu Chinedu Joseph, an option of paying N3 million fine to avoid jail for his offence.
The judge had earlier slammed a four years sentence on the accused for unlawful importation of 1.295 kilograms of cocaine, before granting him the option of fine.
The accused was charged before the court by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a single count-charge of unlawful importation a banned drug.
NDLEA, in the charge with number FHC/L/482c/2016, stated that on October 30, 2016, during inward clearance of Royal Air Maroc flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, at “D” Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the accused was found to have imported 1.295 kilograms of cocaine without lawful authority.
The NDLEA prosecutor, Mr. Augustine Nwagu, said the offence contravened section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The accused had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge, when he was first arraigned before the court and was, consequently, admitted to bail.
However, at the resumption of trial, today, the accused voluntarily informed the court of his intention to change his plea to guilty.
After, reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
The defence lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, in his allocution, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.
Justice Shagari held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
He, consequently, sentenced him to 48 months imprisonment starting from today.
He also ordered that the seized drug be destroyed by the anti-narcotic agency, if there is no appeal against the judgement after 30 days.
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