A Lagos Federal High Court on Friday convicted and sentenced a 33-year-old man, Duru Kingsley, for unlawful dealing in 124.4 kilograms of tramadol.
Justice Akintayo Aluko who presided over the court, sentenced the convict to a jail term after he pleaded guilty to five counts charge of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in the banned drugs.
The convict according to the prosecutor, Mr. Lambert Nor, engaged in the illegal acts between August 27 and September 2, 2022, at First Estate, Raji Rasaki Road, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
Lambert told the court that the convict had in his possession 111.2 kilograms of tramadol hydrochloride 250mg; 115.2 kilograms of tramadol hydrochloride 120grams; 10 kilogrammes of tramadol hydrochloride 100mg and 8 kilograms tramadol hydrochloride 100mg.
He told the court that the offences committed by the convict, contravened Sections Section 14 (b) and 11(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap 3 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The convict pleaded guilty to the five count charge, after the charges were read to him.
Upon his guilty plea, the prosecutor, urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the law he was charged with.
However, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Mousa D. Anyama, in his allucutor, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, whom he described as a first time convict.
Anyama told the court that the convict, was a squatter when he was arrested with the banned drug, adding that, the convict had learnt his lesson from when he was arrested on August 27.
Anyama particularly urged the court to consider an option of fine in lieu of custodian sentence.
Justice Aluko in his judgment, sentenced the convict to seven years in each of the counts.
The judge also ordered that the period of sentence shall run concurrently, noting that, the convict shall pay the option of N1 million, in lieu of jail terms.
Justice Aluko also ordered the convict to perform two weeks community service, by picking refuse at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, two hours each day of the two weeks.
The judge also ordered the convict to provide a guarantor, that will pay the some amount in case the convict absconded.
