Court jails two cocaine pushers 24 months
Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari sitting at a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday convicted and sentenced Okonkwo Victor Chukwuma and Bankole Johnson to 24 months imprisonment, for importing 220 grams of Cocaine. The court handed down the judgement after the prosecution had proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt. The court however ordered that the […]
Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari sitting at a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday convicted and sentenced Okonkwo Victor Chukwuma and Bankole Johnson to 24 months imprisonment, for importing 220 grams of Cocaine.
The court handed down the judgement after the prosecution had proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt.
The court however ordered that the sentenced term will start to run from the first date that the convicts were arrested by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The duo were nabbed July 27, 2017, at the EMS section of Marina Post Office, Lagos Island, Lagos, where they have gone to receive the banned drug, by the operatives of NDLEA.
Upon their arrest, they were charged before the court sometimes in October, 2017, on one count-charge of unlawful importation of the said banned drug.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Adekunle Adebanjo, is contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charge and admitted to bail in various terms and conditions.
However, during their trial, the prosecutor, Mr. Adebanjo had called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits.
Parts of the exhibits tendered by the prosecutor are: the banned drug, the convicts’ confessional statements, the result of laboratory test conducted on the drugs and others.
In her judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Rabiu-Shagari said: "the prosecution have been able to prove its case against the defendant. Each of the defendants is hereby guilty as charged, and they are hereby convicted".
Upon pronouncing them as convicts, Justice Rabiu-Shagari asked the convict’ lawyers, Anthony Nnamoko and M. Ogunleye, for allocutor.
The convicts’ lawyers, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing their clients.
The lawyers told the court that the convicts, who are first-term offenders, have become sober since when they were arrested, and have promised not to involve in such act if given second chance.
The prosecutor, Adebanjo, also told the court that to his knowledge, the convicts are first-time offenders.
Following the submissions of both the convicts’ lawyers and the prosecutor, Justice Rabiu-Shagari, sentenced the convicts to 24 months imprisonment.
The against the convict reads: "That you Okonkwo Victor Chukwuma, Male, Adult, and Bankole Johnson a.k.a. Rotimi Adekunle, male, Adult on or about the 28th day of July, 2017, at EMS/NIPOST Office, Marina in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, jointly imported 220 grammes of Cocaine, a Narcotic drug without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014".