A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced John Onwuma, a businessman, who was caught at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos while attempting to export cocaine to India to two years imprisonment for drug trafficking.
Onwuma was arraigned before Justice Ambrose Allagoa, on one-count charge of drug trafficking.
He, pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, reviewed the facts of the case before the court and tendered evidences in support of the prosecution’s case.
The prosecutor tendered documents such as: a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form, statement of the defendant, and packaging of substance form.
Others include a sealed envelope, a pouch containing remnant of the analysed substance among others.
He, then urged the court to proceed and convict the defendant based on his plea as well as evidences tendered by prosecution.
The court, consequently, found the defendant guilty of the offence and accordingly convicted him as charged.
Before sentence, Defence counsel Chief Benson Ndakara, prayed the court to show mercy on the convict, being a first offender, adding that he had learnt his lessons.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Allagoa, sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment beginning from date of arrest.
The court, however, gave the convict an option of three million naira fine.
The prosecution said that the convict committed the offence on April 4.
He was said to have been arrested at the check-in counter of Qatar Airways at the departure hall, new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport
The prosecution said that he was caught during the outward clearance of passengers aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Lagos to India
The NDLEA said that the convict unlawfully exported 2.5kg of cocaine to India.
The offence contravenes the provisions of section 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30 Law of the Federation 2004. (NAN)
