Businessman Sentenced To 10 Years’ Imprisonment With Hard Labour For Drug Trafficking

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Lagos Federal High Court on Wednesday sentenced a 31-year-old businessman, Onyemaechi Chibuzor, to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for drug trafficking. Ofili-Ajumogobia said she was convinced beyond reasonable doubts by the evidence presented by the prosecution that the convict actually committed the offence. ‪The prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, said that men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recovered the substance during an outward clearance of Emirates Airline flight to Malaysia. He had pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum. ‪The prosecutor called two witnesses, and tendered 14 exhibits. They included the convict’s statements, the investigating police officers’ statements, drug laboratory report, exhibit forms, seized drug, international passport and other travel documents. ‪The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict was arrested on Dec. 20, 2011, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, with about 600 grammes of methamphetamine. ‪The convict was first arraigned on March 15, 2012, before Justice Benedicta Molokwu (now retired). ‪The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that upon the retirement of Justice Molokwu, his case was re-assigned to Ofili-Ajumogobia, who revoked the bail earlier granted after he jumped bail on May 22, during trial. The punishment is to commence from the date of conviction. (NAN)