Drug Peddling Offence: Court Sentences Man To 25 Years Jail Term

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced a 37-year-old man, Amaechi Igwe, to 25 years in jail for drug peddling.

Igwe was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on June 25, on a one-count charge bordering on the offence.

He had pleaded guilty to the charge.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia had consequently ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Prisons and had adjourned the case for a review of facts and sentencing.

In her judgment on Wednesday, Ofili-Ajumogobia found the accused guilty of the offence as charged, and convicted him.

“I have considered all the evidence tendered before the court by the prosecution, as well as the plea of the accused.

“The accused is hereby found guilty as charged, and is accordingly, convicted.

“The accused is sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, beginning from the date of judgment”, she said.

The court also ordered that the drug exhibit be destroyed if no appeal is filed against the judgment.

On Nov. 26, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had tendered various forms of evidence before the court.

They included: a certificate of test analysis form, type of substance form, request for scientific aid form, drug analysis form, large sealed brown envelop, statement of the accused and a bulk of exhibit.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had admitted the documents and accordingly, marked them as exhibits pd1, pd 2, pd3, pd4, pd5, pd6, and pd7, respectively.

The prosecutor had told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 8.

He said that the accused was arrested on a tip off, at the Mile 12 market in Lagos, with about 2.7 kg of Cocaine.

According to the prosecutor, the substance was recovered from the accused, who concealed same in a neat wrap.
The offence is said to have contravened the Provisions of Sections 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The NDLEA Act provides for a term of life imprisonment for the offence of drug trafficking. (NAN)