Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced one Anthony Chidi Ikeaba to 14 years imprisonment for unlawfully importing 1.782 kilogram of cocaine into the country.
Officials of the National Drug Laws and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Ikeaba with cocaine at the Arrival Hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja on April 20, 2016. The convict was arrested on arrival from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The anti-narcotic drug agency had arraigned the convict for unlawful importation of cocaine, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act.
During the review of fact of the case by the prosecution yesterday, Ikeadi pleaded guilty and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
In his judgment, Justice Abang noted that if drug traffickers would not relent in their criminal act, he would continue to elongate their stay in confinement.
He then sentenced the convict to 14 years imprisonment, adding that the sentence would take effect from the date of the convict’s arrest on April 20, 2016.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), who commended the judgment, stated that drug trafficking will soon become unattractive.
“This ruling is timely and commendable. I can assure you that drug trafficking will soon become unattractive because punishment must be proportional to offence so as to deter both the victim and others” Abdallah stated.
The NDLEA boss also reiterated his commitment to a drug-free Nigeria.
