Justice Yellim Bogoro of a Federal High Court, Lagos, convicted and sentenced a drug trafficker, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna, to five years imprisonment for unlawful export of 1.30 Kilogrames of tramadol, a psychotropic substance.
Okenwa was given the jail-term by Justice Bogoro, after he pleaded guilty to the three counts charge of conspiracy unlawful export and possession of the prohibited drug made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convicted drug trafficker, according the prosecutor, Barrister (Mrs) Bibiana Eze, was arrested with the substance sometimes in October 2024, during the examination and clearing of cargo for export to Cyprus at NAHCO Esport Shed, of Customs Area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecutor told the court that the convicted drug trafficker conspired with one Kelvin Mooneye, currently residing in Cyprus, to commit the illegal act.
Mrs. Eze last told the court that the convicted drug trafficker had in his possession 200 gramme of Tramadol, a psychotropic substance, which was recovered at his residence, 2, Sunny Ogu Crescent, City Hill, Estate, Enugu State.
The prosecutor had told the court that the illegal actions of the convict, contravened sections 14(b), 11(b) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. CAP 30, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And punishable under the same Act.
Upon the reading of the charge, the convicted admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to the three counts charge.
Based on his plea of guilty, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge, as well, tendered all the exhibits in the case.
However, his lawyer, Anthony Nnamoko, in his allucutor, pleaded with the court to be merciful on his client in sentencing him.
Nnamoko urged the court to consider the early guilty plea of his client as a sign of remorsefulness and for not wasting the time of court. Adding that his client is a first time convict, who did not have record of previous conviction.
The convict’s lawyer urged the court to give his client a non-custodian sentence or a fine option in lieu of the jail-term.
Justice Bogoro, in her judgment, sentenced the drug trafficker to one year imprisonment in count one and two of the charge, with an option of N1 million each
The judge, however sentenced him to six months imprisonment on count three but with no fine option.
In addition, the judge ordered the convict to perform three weeks community service. While also ruled that both the sentence and fine option shall run consecutively.
Charges Against the convict reads: “That you, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna, Male, Adult, sometimes in October, 2024 conspired with one Kelvin MOONEYE, resident in Cyprus (now at large) to export 1.30 Kilograms of Tramadol, a psychotropic substance and thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and Punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. CAP 30, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
“That you, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna, Male Adult. on oF about the 17th day of October 2024 during the examination and clearing of cargo for export to Cyprus at NAHCO Esport Shed, of Customs Area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, exported 1.20 kilograms of Tramadol, a psychotropic substance and thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National! Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
“That you, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna, Male, Adult, on or about the 25th day of October, 2024 at your residence at No. 2, Sunny Ogu Crescent, City Hill, Estate, Enugu within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority, knowingly possessed 200 gramme of Tramadol, a psychotropic substance and thereby committed en act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the National! Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 .”
