Drug Counterfeiter Bags Five Years Jail Term

  • Two others 30 years for cannabis, illicit drugs possession

Martins Ifijeh
A 35-year-old fake drugs manufacturer, Osita Paul Ely, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment without option of fine by a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State.

Ely, had been standing trial since October 2015 after he was arrested by operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for manufacturing, sale and distribution of fake drugs and other related acts in September last year.

The arrest at his residence in the Bonsacc area of Asaba, on a tip-off where cartons of fake packaged drugs and machines for production were recovered before he was handed over to the Police for prosecution.

During his arraignment in October, Osita Paul Ely had initially pleaded not guilty to a 7-count charge preferred against him, but later admitted guilt during court proceedings that he indulged in drugs’ manufacturing business to earn a living and meet his financial demands.

Osita Paul Ely, a graduate of economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, had also claimed to be a first offender through his counsel, Mr. Emeka Orji had pleaded for his leniency.

But the presiding Judge, Justice Anthony Faji while delivery his ruling, found the accused guilty in all the counts especially as he admitted guilt during cross examination, adding that in view of the evidence, circumstances and the accuse admission of guilt to the charges, it was clear that rather than helping to grow the economy of the country as a graduate of Economics he has decided to increase the population of the people in the hospital and the dead at the mortuary.

Noting that the accused person abused privileges of education, Justice
Faji therefore sentenced him to five years custodian jail without options of fine.

In his reaction, the lead prosecution counsel, Umar Shamaki applauded the the judgement. He commended the courage of the judge in this instance adding that by this single act the right signal and message has been sent to those that engage in drug counterfeit that there is no safe haven for them to carry out their nefarious activities.

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