A Federal High Court in Lagos handed down a five-year prison sentence or a N3 million fine to Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka, a Nigerian drug dealer convicted of importing 7.8 kilograms of cocaine into the country from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The judgement, delivered by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, underscores the severity of drug-related offenses and aims to serve as a deterrent to potential offenders.
Emeka, who pleaded guilty to the single count charge brought forth by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was apprehended during the inward clearance of an Ethiopian Airline flight at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on January 8, 2021.
Prosecuting counsel Augustine Nwagu emphasized the gravity of the offense, citing Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act.
During the court proceedings, Nwagu presented crucial evidence, including the convict’s statement, two ECOWAS passports, the seized drugs, and scientific test analysis forms.
Despite Emeka’s counsel, Dennis Warri, pleading for leniency, highlighting the convict’s remorse and status as a first-time offender, Nwagu urged the court to consider the commercial quantity of the drug and its potential impact on society.
Justice Aneke, in delivering the verdict, acknowledged the convict’s youth and expression of remorse but stressed the need for a strong deterrent against such illicit activities.
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