A Lagos Federal High Court sentenced Udogwu James Johnson to five years in prison today for illegally importing drugs up to 300 grammes of cocaine.
After pleading guilty to an amended charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the defendant was sentenced to prison by Justice Nicholas Oweibo.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, the defendant was first arraigned in court on August 12, 2021, but pled not guilty to the accusation.
The defendant jumped bail halfway through his trial, and his bail was revoked on June 6, 2022. He was later detained again in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was facing more drug-related allegations.
“That you Udogwu James Johnson, Male, Adult, on or about the 25th of December, 2020 at the D-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, without lawful authority imported 300grams of cocaine, a narcotic, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Following his guilty plea, Mr. Ibrahim begged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the part of the law he was charged with.
In his decision, Justice Oweibo sentenced the defendant to five years in prison.
The judge ordered that the jail sentences begin today, 27 April, 2023.
