Categories: City Updates

Court Asks Convicted Cocaine Pusher to Pay N3m Fine

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.

0
Editor

Recent Posts

Are The Grammys Relevant Outside the United States?

Building Credibility For nearly eight decades, the Grammy Awards have stood as the pinnacle of…

1 day ago

Disputed 5.3bn Shares: Court Adjourns Barbican/FBN Holdings Suit as Ecobank’s Recusal Motion Remains Pending

Justice Ayokunle Faji has adjourned further proceedings in the suit filed by Barbican Capital Limited…

3 days ago

Los Angeles Protects Undocumented Immigrants from Trump’s Deportation Plans with Sanctuary Ordinance

Segun Atanda/ The Los Angeles City Council has approved a sweeping "sanctuary city" ordinance designed…

3 days ago

Trump Could Face Prison After Second Term, Prosecutors Say

Segun Atanda/ New York prosecutors have opposed dismissing President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction for falsifying business…

3 days ago

MC Oluomo Flouts Court Order, Assumes Office as NURTW President

Femi Ashekun/ In a bold and controversial move, Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya, has defied a…

3 days ago

Tinubu Sacks Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC, Registrar … Dissolves Council

Matilda Omonaiye/ President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,…

3 days ago