Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos

One Akoti Yaa Juliette, a Beninoise woman has been convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for unlawfully trafficking in 9.400 kilogrammes of Tramadol.

The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Daniel Osiagor at the Lagos Federal High Court in Ikeja who presided over the case.

Akoti was given the jail term after she pleaded to a count charge of the offence levelled against her by the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The convict, a resident of Avovi Benin Republic, was arrested on May 22, 2012, by the Operatives of the agency, at NDLEA Checkpoint Search ramp Seme, Badagry Local Government area Lagos state, while attempting to smuggle the prohibited drug into Nigeria.

The convict was arraigned before the court on Wednesday, on a count charge of unlawful dealing in the banned drug. The offence is punishable under section 11b of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

She pleaded guilty to the charge.

Following her guilty plea, the judge, Justice Osiagor, called on the prosecutor, Mr Femi Adebayo, to review the facts of the charge.

Having reviewed the facts of the charge, Mr Adebayo, urged the court to convict and sentence the convict in accordance with section 11b of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

But counsel to the convict, G. U. Okaka, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, on the ground that she had become remorseful since she was arrested and promised not to engage in illicit trade.

Following the submissions of the Counsel, Justice Osiagor sentenced the convict to three years Imprisonment.

Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:

Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com