Playing a role of a cog in the wheel of progress in the war against drug trafficking and abuse, a
Federal High Court Lagos in 2014 has sentenced a drug baroness to one day imprisonment for trafficking in illicit drug worth more than N30million.
The conviction followed after the suspected baroness was found guilty of smuggling 33.3kg of cocaine. The convict was among the 117 males and 9 females
who were sentenced to between one day and 15 years for various drug offences.
Justice
Musa Kurya sentenced the baroness said to be a pregnant woman, Kudirat Bello to one day imprisonment
for possessing 33.3kg of cannabis while 38 year old Obinna Okeke was sentenced
to 15 years with hard labour by Justice M. D. Idris for possession of 3kg of
cannabis.
other 118 cases were pending as at December 31, 2014. The command also
detected a clandestine laboratory in the State. Daily Signpost gathered that the woman having been arrested quickly arranged for pregnancy to appeal the conscience of who was going to handle her case in order to give her slight sentence. we gathered that prison warders do arrange for inmates to get quick pregnancy to enable them get short sentences.
Lanre Salami who was
arrested at Oshodi lied to the court that he was 15 years old. The court later
discovered that he was actually 17 years old. He was sentenced to 10 years for
unlawful dealing in 400 grammes of cannabis. Salisu Usman, 42, was apprehended
at Iddo Motor Park on his way to Zamfara, his home State with 47kg of diazepam.
He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour.
NDLEA Lagos State
commander, Mr. Aliyu Sule said that over two metric tons of illicit drugs were
intercepted and an illegal factory used for the production of methamphetamine
was also detected and shut down in the State in 2014. According to Sule,
“the
Lagos State command seized a total of 2,056.949kg and apprehended 434 suspected
drug traffickers. Those arrested include 413 males and 21 females. Drug exhibits
seized are as follows; cannabis 1,989.716kg, cocaine 188.4 grammes, heroin
1.645kg, methamphetamine 7.6kg and psychotropic substances 57.8kg. Apart from
those prosecuted, others found to be addicted were counseled. In addition, a
clandestine laboratory used for the manufacture of methamphetamine was
discovered and shut down in 2014”.
Those arrested include a 53-year-old
suspected drug kingpin. The suspect, a businessman and Chief Executive Officer of
Best Fellows Nigeria Limited, Charles Okos Chijioke of Canal Avenue Estate
Okota, Lagos was arrested in connection with the clandestine laboratory.
Mr. Charles
is said to be producing methamphetamine at Lateef Adegboyega Street, Ago Palace
Way, Lagos. Items recovered from the laboratory includes; 7.6kg of
methamphetamine, nine drums of Toluene, Toyota 4 Runner Jeep, Toyota Hiace Bus
and a Pressure Pot.
The suspect in his
statement said that he was introduced to methamphetamine production by a
friend. “I only attended Primary and Secondary School before I went into
trading. A friend introduced me to the business of chemical importation from
China and Europe in 2012. A year later, I learnt how to produce methamphetamine
because there is high profit in it. I began to produce methamphetamine in my
house in 2013. My first production was bad because of inexperience. Gradually, I
was able to perfect the process. That was how I got involved in the drug
business” Charles stated. The suspect has a wife and daughter and hails from Anambra
State.
Chairman/Chief Executive of
the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade assured members of the public that drug traffickers
shall not go unpunished. In his words, “the NDLEA will continue to enforce the
provisions of the Act and bring offenders to justice. Let me assure members of
the public that no drug dealer shall go unpunished. Suspected drug traffickers
should be reported to the nearest NDLEA office”.
Giade also urged parents to
teach their children to avoid drug trafficking and abuse.
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