A convicted drug trafficker, Igwe Okoye Onwukwe, has again being convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour, the Federal High Court,Lagos for smuggling 32.400 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa popularly called marijuana to United kingdom (UK).
Okoye who claimed to be clearing agent, was on November 2020, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment, by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the same division of the court, for smuggling 1. 64 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.
He was however given an option of fine of N500, 000.
Not quite long after his released from prison after paying the fine option, he was again re-arrested on October 15, 2021, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempting to export 34.400 kilograms of the banned substance.
Following his arrest, he was brought before Justice Peter Lifu on a three count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful exportation of the banned substance and procuring one Ikechukwu Kelvin to unlawfully export the same banned hard drug.
The prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, during the convict’s arraignment, told the court that the convict was arrested with the 16, 550 kilograms of prohibited substanc on October 15, 2021, at the Export Shed, A, Customs Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos during the clearance of cargoes to London, United Kingdom.
The prosecutor told the court that the convict conspired with the duo of Ezeugo’ and one ‘James Darren’ of Peckham, United kingdom, (both now at large), to engaged in the illicit act.
Abu also told the court that the convict procured one Ikechukwu Kelvin, on October 20, 2021, to illegally export 15.850 kilograms of the banned weed.
The prosecutor further told the court that the offences committed by the convict, contravened Sections 14 (b); 19 and 21(2)(d) of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
However, the convict denied the allegations when he was first arraigned before the court sometimes in November 2021.
But midway into his trial, the convict changed his plea and admitted commiting the acts.
Following his admission of the crimes, the prosecutor, reviewed the facts of the crimes, as well, tendered several exhibits.
In his allocutors, the convict told the court that as a clearing agent, though not a registered one, he was deceived by his clients who are the owners of the prohibited cargoes.
His counsel, Adebayo Onifade, also pleaded with the court to be merciful to his client in sentencing him, because of his five children, wife and aged mother.
He particularly urged the court to consider option of fine in lieu of the custodian sentence.
The claims which was rebuffed by the prosecutor, who told the court that the convict is one of the specialised cleaning agents, that are drug barons to smuggle drugs.
The prosecutor told the court, that the convict during interrogation, told investigators how he was paid for the job.
Justice Lifu, after hearing parties, dismissed the convict’s pleading and the allocutors made by his counsel.
Justice Lifu consequently sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment with hard labour on each of the counts.
The judge however ordered that the jail terms should run concurrently and commenced from October 15,