Drug trafficking: South African returnee bags 38 years imprisonment
A South Africa returnee, Raji Issa Adio, has been convicted and sentenced to 38 years imprisonment for trafficking in 5. 10 kilogrammes of banned hard drugs.
The 43 years old convict, was given the jail terms by Justice (Professor) Chuka Austin Obiozor, of Federal High Court, Lagos, after he was found him guilty of three counts charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of 5.10 kilogrammes of Heroine made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convict was first arraigned before the court on the charges on December 7, 2017 and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
During the trial of the case, NDLEA lawyer, Mrs. Juliana Imaobong Iroabuchi, called witnesses and tendered 13 exhibits which includes the banned drugs seized from the convict, his international passport, test analysis of the seized drugs and foreign currencies.
And the convict, while being led by his counsel, Chief Lilian Omotunde, defended himself against the charge.
Delivering judgment on the charge against the convict, Justice Obiozor held that: “the prosecution has been able to established all the allegations as contained in that charge against the convict beyond reasonable doubt”.
Justice Obiozor consequently sentenced the convict to 15 Yeats imprisonment in both count one and third of the charge while sentenced him to eight years in count two.
Justice Obiozor pronounced that the convict’s jail terms will start counting from September 3, 2017, when he was arrested .
The judge while ordered they the jail term is to run concurrently, however gave the convict option of N1.5 million on count one and three respectively, but no option fine on count two.
NDLEA in a charge marked FHC/L/429c/2017, stated that the convict was arrested on September 3, 2017, during the inward clearance of South Africa Airway flight to Lagos, Nigeria, at the E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Mohammad international Airport Ikeja, Logos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority knowingly possessed of 5.10 kilogrammes of Heroin which were concealed under his two traveling bags inform of false Button
He was also said to have on about September 2, 2017, while at South Africa conspired with one Segun and Eddie, both resides in South Africa and now at large, to import the banned drug to Lagos, Nigeria.
The offences accordingly to the prosecutor Mrs. Imaobong Iroabuchi, are contrary to and punishable under Section 11(d), 11 (a) and 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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