Cocaine Peddler Gets 12 Years Imprisonment

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, (THEWILL) – Okon Abang, Justice of the Federal High Court 10, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, has sentenced a 31-year-old technician, Michael Nwobodo to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour for importation of cocaine.

Okon in his judgement on Monday observed that the illicit drug trade was not abating and that measures must be taken to stop the criminal act.

Nwobodo was arrested on February 29, 2016 with eighty-one wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg on his way from Dubai and attempted to escape by breaking through a glass wall at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.

He was later apprehended and treated for the injuries he sustained while 81 wraps of cocaine concealed in Parker Whisky packs along with boxes of chocolates inside a duty free bag were recovered from him.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of cocaine, an offence punishable under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

NDLEA Chairman, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah commended the ruling saying that the Agency will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the fight against illicit drugs in the country.

“This will serve both as a deterrent and a corrective measure to the convict and others who are involved in narcotic production, trafficking and abuse,” Abdallah stated.

“The Agency will not relent in partnering with stakeholders in apprehending and prosecuting drug traffickers.”

Story by David Oputah