Beautician jailed 15 years for dealing cocaine

A twenty-four-year-old graduate and beautician, Chioma Okocha, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years by a federal high court in Benin for being in possession of 0.2 kilogramme of cocaine. The presiding judge, Justice (Prof.) Chuka Austin Obiozor,  gave her an option of N2 million. The convict was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law […]

A twenty-four-year-old graduate and beautician, Chioma Okocha, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years by a federal high court in Benin for being in possession of 0.2 kilogramme of cocaine.

The presiding judge, Justice (Prof.) Chuka Austin Obiozor,  gave her an option of N2 million.

The convict was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on September 21, 2021 with O.2 kilogramme of cocaine at GT fast food located at 1st East Circular road, Benin City.

The convict who hails from Delta State serves as a delivery agent to a drug baron based in Delta State.

The prosecuting counsel, E.C. Ordiah, had earlier told the court that the accused was arrested with the cocaine at GT fast food when she went to eat.

She said upon her arrest, forensic analysis conducted on the substance from the Lagos office of the NDLEA showed that the substance is cocaine.

The prosecutor explained that the accused made a voluntary statement of being arrested with a drug and that she was sent to deliver the drug to someone in Benin. She said the convict took them to the house of the supposed owner of the substance but didn’t meet anybody there, but only found cocaine which they seized.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence, while her counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, as she is an orphan.

The accused said she was not aware that the substance was cocaine when she was asked to deliver it to somebody in Benin.