A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has sentenced a 19-year-old Pakistani, Iftikhar Arslan, to 18 months in prison for importing 25.4 kilogrammes of heroin into the country.
Arslan, who was alleged to be a medical student in Pakistan, had pleaded guilty to a count charge preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
He however pleaded for leniency, claiming that he did not know how the hard drug got into his bag.
“I am a medical student from Pakistan and I truly do not know how the substance entered into my bag. I beg this court to have mercy on me. My education and career will suffer and be destroyed.
“I don’t have anybody here in Nigeria because my people are in Pakistan,” Arslan said.
Justice Aneke sentenced the convict without any option of fine.
According to the judge, Arslan’s conviction and sentencing was in accordance with the provisions of sections 281 and 285 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
“This sentence will take effect from the day of his arrest. And I also order that the imported hard drug should be destroyed 30 days after this ruling if no appeal is lodged,” the judge said.
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