Court Imposes Four-Year Prison Sentence On Cocaine Trafficker

Court Imposes Four-Year Prison Sentence On Cocaine Trafficker

The Federal High Court in Lagos State has convicted and sentenced Francis Akajiobi, a Nigerian attempting to travel to Spain, to four years in prison for trafficking 1.20 kilograms of cocaine……..CONTINUE READING 

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa handed down the sentence on Thursday, October 3, 2024, after Akajiobi pleaded guilty to a one-count charge brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following his arraignment.

NDLEA prosecutor Mr. Abu Ibrahim informed the court that Akajiobi was arrested at the Departure Hall of the new terminal at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Ibrahim explained that the arrest occurred on July 25, 2024, while Akajiobi was attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Valencia, Spain, during the passenger clearance process.

“He concealed the cocaine inside some footwear,” Ibrahim stated.

He noted that the offense violated Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which prescribes penalties for drug trafficking.

Following Akajiobi’s guilty plea, the judge instructed the prosecutor to present the case facts.

After laying out the details and submitting evidence, Ibrahim urged the court to convict and sentence Akajiobi. “The evidence clearly supports the guilty plea, and we request that the court convict him accordingly,” he said.

In response, defense counsel Benson Ndakara appealed for leniency during sentencing, stating, “My Lord, this is a first-time offender who has saved the court’s time by not opting for a full trial. We plead for mercy in sentencing.”

After confirming with the prosecutor that Akajiobi had no prior criminal record, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled that Akajiobi could instead pay a fine of N2 million in lieu of serving the four-year prison term.

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