A Chinese, Zheng Di, has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment, conspiracy for unlawful storage and illegal export of donkey genitals, by a Lagos Federal High Court.

The convicted Chinese whose also known as Andi, was Convicted and sentenced to prison by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, after admitted commiting the illegal acts.

The China citizen was arraigned for the offences by the legal department of Federal Operation Unit, Ikeja, Lagos, of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Michael Osong, who led Mrs. Vivian Aigbadon, told the court that the convicted Chinese committed the illegal act on August 2, 2023, at the SAHCOL Export Warehouse of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Osong told the court that the convict committed the offence with a Nigerian named Famakinwa Samson Funmi and some others, who are now at large.

The prosecutor further told the court that the convicted Chinese, when arrested, falsely claimed in Waybill number 0714869 2070 and other declaration documents, that what he warehoused were cow penis which he intend to export not donkey genitals that was prohibited.

The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the convict, contravened Sections 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He also told the court that the offences are contrary to Section 150(1)(b) and 150(2)(c) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and punishable under section 150(1)(b)(i) of the same Act.

The convicted Chinese admitted commiting and pleaded guilty to all the counts of the charge.

Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

But the convicted man through his lawyer, pleaded with the court for mercy, saying that his client was a first time offender.

The lawyer told the court that his client has promised not to involve in any form of crimes if given another opportunity.

He pleaded with the court to consider a non-custodian sentence of fine option in lieu of the custodian sentence.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa in his judgment, after taken into consideration the lawyer’s plea for leniency and other aggravating factors, which tilted towards the convict, sentenced him to two years imprisonment.

The judge however ordered the convict to pay N500, 000. 00, in lieu of the jail-term.