A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today convicted and sentence a Greece bound Nigerian passenger, Nnaeto Christian Ifeanyi to seven years Imprisonment for dealing in 1.55 kg of Cocaine.
Ifeanyi conviction and sentence was sequel to his decision to change his plea from not guilty to guilty during his re-arraignment before Justice Daniel Osiagor today.
At the resumption of trial today, the defence counsel, Mr Dennis Warri told the trial judge that Ifeanyi informed him of his decision to change his plea.
Following the development, the prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim urged the court to allow the charge be read to the defendant upon which the defendant pleaded guilty.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim urged the court to allow him review the fact of the case during which Abu tendered all exhibits to prove his case.
He therefore urged the court to convict the defendant based on the evidence before the court and the admittance of guilt by the defendant.
Consequently, Justice Osiagor convicted the defendant as charged.
The convict’s counsel, Mr Dennis Warri in his allocators, urged the court to temper Justice with mercy, adding that the convict is a first time offender who did not waste the precious time of the court.
Warri further stated that the convict has learnt his lession and that if given another opportunity he will not go back into crime again. He therefore urged for liniency for convict.
Justice Osiagor while sentencing the convict, said that based on the evidence before the court and the admittance of guilt by the convict, he is satisfied that the prosecution has proved it’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
He therefore sentence him to seven years Imprisonment effective from August 27, 2021 when he was arrested.
It would be recalled that the convict was arrested on August 27 ,2021 by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, during the outward clearance of intending passengers of Turkish Airlines Flight to Athens, Greece at the Gate C of the Departure Hall of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos with 1.55 kilograms of cocaine.
The one count charge reads: That you Nnaeto Christian Ifeanyi, Male, Adult on or about the 27 of August 2021 during the outward Clearance of intending passengers of Turkish Airline Flight in Athens, Greece at the Gate C of the Departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos without lawful Authority exported 1. 55 Kilograns Of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug, and you thereby committed an Offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Act Cap N40 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
