Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court Lagos, today, convicted and sentenced a drug baron, Aniede Chimezie Bright, to six years Imprisonment, for attempting to export 7.10 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, a banned substance to Madrid, Spain.
Justice Faji, convicted and sentenced the baron after he changed his earlier not guilty plea to guilty.
The convict had earlier pleaded not guilty to a count charge of unlawful export of the banned substance when he was first arraigned before the court sometimes in 2021.
NDLEA in the charge marked FHC/L/109c/2021, stated that the convict was arrested with the banned substance on March 28, 2021, at the Gate ‘C’ of the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, during the outward clearance of passengers on Royal Air, Maroc, flight to Madrid, Spain via Casablanca, Morocco.
The offence committed by the convict according to Mr. Abu Ibrahim, an NDLEA lawyer, is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation Of Nigeria, 2004,
However, at the resumed trial on March 31, 2022, the convict through his lawyer, E. C. Ezeoke, signified his intention to change his not guilty plea, consequently, the judge adjourned the trial till today for review of the facts and sentence.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, while reviewing the fact of the charge, tendered some exhibits, which includes: the convict’s confessional statement, his international passport, part of the analysed drug, the bulk of the drug and others which were admitted by the court.
Upon the reviewing of the facts of the case and tendering of exhibits, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convict according to section 11(b) of NDLEA Act.
But his counsel, Ezeoke, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing the Convict.
He urged the court to consider the fact that the convict did not waste the precious time of the court and the fact that the convict was a first time offender, who has shown remorse since he was arrested and vowed never to engage in crime.
Justice Faji after listening to the submissions of counsel, sentenced the convict to six years imprisonment without an option of fine.
The trial judge ,however, ordered that the jail term should start to count from March 31, 2022, when the convict change his plea.
The charge Against the convict reads: “that you Aniede Chimezie Bright, Male, Adult, on or about the 28 March, 2021 at Gate ‘C’ of the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos during the outward clearance of passengers Royal Air, Maroc, flight to Madrid, Spain via Casablanca, Morocco without lawful exported 7.10 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine, a Psychotropic Substance, under International Control and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation Of Nigeria, 2004.”
