Three men have been convicted for trafficking in prohibited drugs.
Justice Ambros Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, Tuesday, convicted the suspects: Obunike Joseph Obi, Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah and Umelo Ifeanyi Veratius.
Obunike Joseph Obi and Uzorchukwu Godspower Chukwurah, were convicted in the same charge of five counts conspiracy, unlawful export of cocaine and tramadol weighing 30. 5 Kilogrames. And Umelo Ifeanyi Veratius was convicted for unlawful export of 2.30 Kilogrames of Methamphetamine.
The prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, a Commander of Narcotics, had informed the court that both Obunike and Uzorchukwu were arrested with the prohibited drugs at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on July 19, 2025, while attempting to smuggle the drugs to another country.
He also told the court that in a bid to evade arrest, the convicts attempted bribing the operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA with N4 million cash.
He further told the court that the Convicts procured one Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, to smuggle the drugs.
On the third convict, Umelo Ifeanyi Venatius, the prosecutor informed the court that he was arrested with 2.30 kilograms of Methamphetamine, concealed in foodstuffs on September 15.
He told the court that he was arrested at NAHCO Export Shed of the National Handling Company, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, where he wanted to export the drug to Hong Kong.
The prosecutor has told the court that the convicts acts are contrary to section 14 (b), 21 (2)(d), 11(b) and 20 (1)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And punishable under Sections 11(b) and 20 (2) (a) of the said Act.
All the convicts admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following the their plea of guilty, the prosecutor reviewed the facts if the charges and tendered all exhibits including the N4 million, meant for bribing the NDLEA, recovered from the duo of Obunike and Uzorchukwu.
However, counsel to the convicts, Barrister Dennis Warri leading Kate Igbo, in his allucutor, begged the court to be merciful with their clients, whom he described as a first time convicts.
He urged the court to award them fine option in lieu of custodian sentence.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa in his judgment, sentenced each of the Convicts to two years imprisonment.
The judge however ordered each of the Convicts to pay the of N2 million in lieu of the imprisonment. While also ordered that the N4 million recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.
