A Brazil based-Nigerian drug baron, Christian Anyanwu, has been convicted and sentenced to a total of 16 years imprisonment, for trafficking 1.40 Kilogrames of a prohibited substance called methamphetamine.
The convicted drug baron was convicted and sentenced alongside a 35 year-old freight agent, Salako Omolara Fausat, by Justice Yelim Bogoro of a Lagos Federal High Court.
The two convicts were first arraigned before Justice bogoro’s led-court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), sometimes in May 2023, on a five count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful exportation and non-declaration of assets.
The offences which the prosecutor, Mrs. Juliana Imaobong-Irobuchi, said contravened sections 11 (b), 14(b) and 35(3)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap no 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The two convicts denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Despite the convicts plea of not guilty, their bail applications were court refused by the judge after arguments were taken from their lawyers and the prosecutor.
However, when their matter came up recently for trial, the two convicts change their earlier not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
Based on their ‘new plea’, the prosecutor, Mrs. Imaobong-Irobuchi reviewed the facts of the case and as well, tendered some exhibits which were admitted by the court.
In reviewing the facts of the charges against the convicts, the prosecutor told the court that there are aggravating factors against the second convict (Christian Anyanwu).
She told the court that the second convict was not a first time offender and that both convicts did not plea guilty at first instance, when their bail was argue and refused.
The prosecutor further told the court that the two convicts lied on oath and that the drugs exhibit was of commercial quantities. While urging the court to make mandatory sentences in the charge, adding that the use of hard drugs is high and many are dying of it. And that the society at large, are seeking the Justices of this honourable court to deliver them from the dealers of hard drugs.
The prosecutor also urged the court to consider section 311 (2) (a) (b)of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, when sentencing the convicts.
But their lawyers, Mr. Dennis Warri and Kate Igbo, pleaded with the court to be lenient with their clients in sentencing them, saying that they are first first time offenders.
The submissions which was strongly opposed by the prosecutor, Mrs. Imaobong-Irobuchi, who informed the court that the second convict is a serial drug baron and that he is not a first time offender.
Following the revelation made by the prosecutor on the second convict, Justice Bogoro read the second convict’s additional statement and confirm that he was a second time offender.
Consequently Justice Bogoro sentenced the freight agent, Mrs. Salako to 4 years imprisonment in each of the three counts, but to run concurrently.
The judge however ordered her to pay but fine option of N300,000. 00, on each of the counts, this she ordered to be consecutively making total N900, 000, fine with two months community service.
But for the Brazil based drug baron, Christian Anyanwu, the judge sentenced him to four years in counts two, three, four and five, making a total of 16 years imprisonment. But ordered to pay a fine option of N300, 000, on count three with a two-month community service.
The judge also ordered that all the convict’s monies both in his First Bank and GTB accounts, as well as his international passport, two phones and one phone of the first convict, be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.
Some charges against the convicts read: “That you Salako Omolara Fausat, Female, Adult, 34 years old a citizen of Nigeria, on or about the 25th day of November 2022 at the gate ‘B” departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers to Brazil through DOHA within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and without lawful authority exported 1.40 kilogram of methamphetamine which you concealed inside two multi-coloured sack bags, concealed in 7 (seven) containers of custard powder and you thereby committed an offence contrary, to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap no 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
“That you Salako Omolara Fausat, Female, Adult, 34 years old a citizen of Nigeria and Christian Anyanwu, Male, Adult, 39 years old a citizen of Nigeria who resides in Brazil, a notorious drug baron and trafficker and a member of a very dangerous hard drug cartel and one Tosin Dolapo, Head drug Baron and a member of a very dangerous hard drug cartel, who lives in Brazil (now at large) and one unknown woman you claim to be the one that delivered the conceal hard drug to you, on the instruction of the head drug baron Tosin Dolapo your childhood friend and business partner, which you refuse to mention her name (now at large) on or about 25th day of November 2022, during the outward clearance of passengers at Qatar Airways to Brazil through DOHA at the gate (b) departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, did conspired among yourselves to export 1.40 kilograms of methamphetamine, concealed inside two multicoloured sack bags, concealed in 7 (seven) containers of custard powder and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004
“That you Christian Anyanwu, male, 39 years old, a Citizen of Nigeria, who lives in Brazil, you are a notorious and hard drug baron and a “member of a very dangerous hard drug cartel and unrepented criminal, on or about the 25th day of November 2022, in the Joint Border Task Force of the National Drug Law Enforcement MMIA Special Area Command Ikeja, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fails to answer question and also falls, neglects and refuses to make a declaration to flourish information required in the Assets Declaration Form of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 35 (3)(c)(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
