Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Brazil-based Nigerian Jailed 16 years for Drug Trafficking

POSTED ON July 29, 2024 •   Metro      BY Benedicta Bassey •   VIEWS 68
Court Gavel

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced a Brazil-based Nigerian drug baron, Christian Anyanwu, to 16 years imprisonment for trafficking 1.40 kilogrammes of methamphetamine (drugs).

The court also convicted a 35-year-old freight agent, Omolara Salako, for the role played during the illegal activity.

The convicts were first arraigned before Justice Yelim Bogoro by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, sometime in May 2023, on five counts.

The charges included conspiracy, unlawful exportation, and non-declaration of assets.

The NDLEA prosecutor, Mrs Juliana Imaobong-Irobuchi, said the offences contravened Sections 11 (b), 14(b) and 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The convicts, however, pleaded not guilty, but despite their plea of not guilty, their bail applications were refused by the court.

However, when their matter came up for trial, the two convicts changed their earlier not-guilty plea and pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Imaobong-Irobuchi said, “The use of hard drugs is rampant, and many lives are being lost. Society looks to this honourable court to protect it from those who profit from this dangerous trade.”

In their defence, the convicts’ lawyers, Mr Dennis Warri and Kate Igbo, urged the court to consider leniency, arguing that their clients were first-time offenders.

However, the prosecutor refuted this claim, insisting that Anyanwu was a serial offender.

Justice Bogoro confirmed this after reading Anyanwu’s additional statement, noting, “The second convict has a history of involvement in drug trafficking.”

Consequently, Justice Bogoro sentenced Salako to four years imprisonment on each of the three counts, to run concurrently, with an option of N300,000 fine per count, totalling N900,000.

Additionally, Salako was ordered to perform two months of community service.

Meanwhile, Anyanwu was sentenced to four years imprisonment on each of the four counts, making it 16 years.

The judge also gave him an option of a N300,000 fine, on one count, along with two months of community service.

Justice Bogoro ordered the forfeiture of all funds in Anyanwu’s First Bank and GTB accounts, his passport, and two mobile phones to the Federal Government.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Katsina Govt. applauds  NAF  strike against bandits, vows to sustain regional stability
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 22, 2024 0

KATSINA – The Katsina State Government has commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for successf...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Illegal detention: Bizman slams N50m suit on NDLEA
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

NIGERIA — A businessman, Damilare Samuel, has slammed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Appeal Court invalidates verdict against Rivers LG election
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria —The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja has nullified the judgement that prevent...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Man in Police net for defiling, impregnating 15-yr-old daughter
BY Benedicta Bassey November 22, 2024 0

CALABAR, Nigeria —A 48-year-old man, Mallam Adamu Umaru, was paraded by the Zone 6 Police Comm...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Florida Man in detention over alleged bomb plot on New York Stock Exchange
BY Benedicta Bassey November 21, 2024 0

FLORIDA, United States— A Florida man simply identified as Harun Abdul-Malik Yener has been ar...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
DHQ confirms report of 5 soldier’s death in Borno
BY Benedicta Bassey November 20, 2024 0

BORNO, Nigeria — The Defence Headquarters on Wednesday has confirmed the report that Boko...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Gov Okpebholo Suspends market Union over prices, extortion allegations
BY Benedicta Bassey November 20, 2024 0

EDO, Nigeria— Edo state Governor, Monday Okpebholo on Wednesday suspended all market Union in...

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Abuja Court orders Ministry, NiDCOM to repatriate 270 Nigerians in prison
BY Benedicta Bassey November 20, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria — A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Aff...

OUR CHANNELS:

OTHER ARTICLES ::

25th November, 2024
Tinubu eyes livestock sector reform, investment to curb farmer-herder clashes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to resolving the farmer-h...


Katsina Govt. applauds  NAF  strike against bandits, vows to sustain regional stability
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

KATSINA – The Katsina State Government has commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for successf...


Breaking : Supreme court voids National Lottery Act
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

The Supreme Court, on Friday, nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 enacted by the National Assemb...


ECB's renews integration call as trade war looms
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

European Central Bank, President Christine Lagarde renewed her call for economic integration across...


China expands Visa-free entry to more countries to boost economy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

On Friday, China announced that it would expand visa-free entry to citizens of nine more countries a...


FAO aims key outcomes at COP16 Saudi Arabia
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara November 25, 2024 0

The assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwae...


Illegal detention: Bizman slams N50m suit on NDLEA
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

NIGERIA — A businessman, Damilare Samuel, has slammed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency...


Appeal Court invalidates verdict against Rivers LG election
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

ABUJA, Nigeria —The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja has nullified the judgement that prevent...


Man in Police net for defiling, impregnating 15-yr-old daughter
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

CALABAR, Nigeria —A 48-year-old man, Mallam Adamu Umaru, was paraded by the Zone 6 Police Comm...


Trump picks Pam Bondi as Attorney General following Gaetz withdrawal
BY Benedicta Bassey November 25, 2024 0

WASHINGTON, United States  — US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi, a v...


Menu