A 35 year-old clearing agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, has been convicted and sentenced to nine years imprisonment, by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for trafficking in 30.10 Kilogrames of Methamphetamine, a narcotic substance.
Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced the clearing agent, who was charge before the court alongside a London (United Kingdom) based Eze Charles Chinedu, after he pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convicted clearing agent and Eze Charles Chinedu, were charged before the court by the NDLEA on a two count-charge of conspiracy to deal in the banned substance.
The prosecutor, Augustine Nwagu, had told the court that the convict and Eze Charles Chinedu, were arrested with the prohibited substance on May 16, 2023, during examination and clearing of cargo for export to London at SAHCOL Export Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecutor also told the court that both the convicted clearing agent and Eze Charles Chinedu jointly committed the offences with one Fredrick Obunwa, who is now at large.
He told the court that the offences committed by the convict and Eze Charles Chinedu, are contrary to and punishable under sections 14(b) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Both the convict and Eze Charles Chinedu however, denied the allegations when they were first arraigned, and they were equally admitted to bail with some terms and conditions.
However, at the resumed trial of the charges on Monday, the cleaning agent signified his intention to change his plea, and the court ordered that the charge be re-read to him.
Upon reading the charge, the convicted clearing agent pleaded guilty to the charges, while the London returnee Eze Charles Chinedu, still maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge and tendered some exhibits, which includes the convict’s statements, bulk of the confiscated drug and others, which were admitted by the court.
He thereafter urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the sections of the law he was charged with.
But lawyer to the convicted clearing agent, Mr. U. Okoronkwwo, in his allocutus while citing several authorities, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.
He also urged the court to consider a fine option in lieu of the custodian sentence.
In his judgment, Justice Osiagor sentenced the clearing agent to a total of nine years imprisonment, but ordered him to pay a fine of N7 million as an option with a month community service.
The judge however adjourned the trial of the London returnee, Eze Charles Chinedu, to February 23, 2024.
Charges Against the Convict, and the London-based Eze Charles Chinedu read: “that you Eze Charles Chinedu, male, 43 years old: Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, male, 35 years old sometime in May 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired with Fredrick Obunwa (now at large) to export 30.10 Kilogrames of Methamphetamine, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine Heroin or LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Eze Charles Chinedu, male, 43 years old: Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, male,35 years old on or about the 16th day of May, 2023 during the examination and clearing of cargo for export to London at SAHCOL Export Shed at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja – Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority exported 30.10 kilograms of Methamphetamine, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin or LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”.
