A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, and another one in Lagos, have sentenced two notorious drug kingpins Uwaezuoke Christian and Agbo Prince to life imprisonments.
The convicts were prosecuted by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
NDLEA, Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said:
“For 43-year-old businessman Uwaezuoke, his journey to a lifetime in jail began when he was first arrested by NDLEA operatives on March 19, 2022, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after he was found to have ingested 100 big wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms.
“He was subsequently arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022 and was granted bail on certain conditions after he pleaded not guilty.
“He, thereafter. absconded, leading the court to revoke his bail and issue an arrest warrant against him.
“In a twist of event, Uwaezuoke was again arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 1, 2023, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos while attempting to export 1.822 kilograms of cocaine to India through ingestion using a different passport and under a different name, Ilonzeh Onyebuchi.
“He was again arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos in charge number FHC/L/554C/2023.
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“He pleaded guilty to the two counts charge and was convicted and sentenced on October 18, 2023, to a total term of seven years of imprisonment or a fine of ₦1, 500,000.00.
“He paid the fine and was transferred to Abuja to face the importation case pending against him.
“He was re-arraigned on March 20, 2024, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022 before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, where he pleaded guilty again.
“Despite his plea, the court, noting his lack of remorse, the seriousness of drug-related offences and the fact that he is a repeated offender, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
“In the case of 42-year-old Agbo Chidike Prince, he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Hong Kong on October 21, 2023, for ingesting 49 wraps of cocaine weighing 998.73grams.
“Upon his arraignment before Justice Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court, Abuja, the defendant pleaded guilty to the one count charge, prompting the prosecution to present evidence and review the facts of the case.
“Despite the plea of allocutus by the defendant’s counsel, the court, noting the nature of the case and the commercial quantity of the drug, emphasized the seriousness of drug-related offences, convicted and sentenced the defendant on April 15, 2024, to life imprisonment.
“Meanwhile, NDLEA officers at the gate C departure hall of the Lagos airport on April 26, arrested a passenger, Yahaya Oturah, while attempting to export 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg to Malpensa, Italy on an Ethiopian Airline flight.
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“The psychoactive substance was found concealed in women wears and granulated melon packed in the suspect’s backpack and another bag containing food items.
“In his statement, Oturah who is a frequent flyer confessed he was hired to courier the drug for 700 Euros on successful delivery of the consignment in Italy.
“In Bayelsa State, NDLEA operatives on April 24, arrested 28-year-old Jennifer Iliya at Amarata area of Yenagoa for producing and distributing cakes laced with illicit drugs especially cannabis sativa.
“At the time of her arrest, substantial number of the drugged cakes weighing 1.5kg were recovered from her.
“A 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu and a dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, 30, had been arrested on March 10, by NDLEA operatives for in Yenagoa for a similar offence.
“Two suspects: Joseph Dadik, 47, and Bensha Yari, 32, were arrested with 24,180 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 135.5 kilograms at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, while Adamu Umar, 18, was nabbed with 20.700kg cannabis when his house in Shuware area of Mubi, Adamawa state was raided on April 26.
“No fewer than 310.7kg cannabis was recovered on April 25, when NDLEA operatives raided parts of Mushin in Lagos state.
“While 300kg was seized at Olatunji Street, Mushin, 10.7kg of same substance was retrieved from two suspects: Tijani Wasiu and Suleiman Aisha at Anifowose, Mushin.
“While Stanley Chukwudi, 43, was arrested with 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection at
Sabon Gari area of Kano State on April 25, a couple, Fredrick Odion, 53, and Gladys Odion, 52, were nabbed with 50kg cannabis at Iruekpen, Esan west LGA, Edo state by NDLEA officers on April 24,” the statement added.
