A 38-year-old businessman, Chibueze Onedigbo, on Monday was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos for drug trafficking.
Onedigbo, was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge of drug trafficking on August 29, 2013.
Delivering judgement, Justice Musa Kurya, said that 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,’’ Kurya said.
The NDLEA Prosecutor, Mr Linus Nor, while testifying in court said the convict was arrested on April 7, 2013, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport with 210 grammes of cocaine during clearance of passengers on board a Qatar airline flight.
Nor told the court that the convict had concealed the substance in a black leather bag.
The prosecutor said the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.
When the charge was read, the 38-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The NDLEA called two witnesses to prove its case against the convict.
Justice Musa Kurya consequently sentenced Onedigbo to 10 years in prison.
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