A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced one 30-year-old Abdulateef Bashir to four years’ imprisonment for trafficking in 1.38kg of cocaine.
Justice Maureen Onyetenu sentenced Bashir after he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had charged Bashir on three counts of conspiracy, unlawful export of restricted narcotic and trafficking in drugs.
Onyetenu found Bashir guilty as charged, and sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment on count one, three years’ imprisonment on count two, and two years’ imprisonment on count three.
She ordered that the terms of imprisonment should run concurrently from the date of Bashir’s arrest.
Bashir was first arraigned in March during which he pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.
The prosecution had opened trial in the suit and calling witnesses.
However, on Dec. 17, Bashir changed his plea to guilty.
Following his guilty plea, the court reviewed the facts of the case.
The Prosecutor, Mrs Juliana Imaobong, tendered as exhibits, a written statement of Bashir, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form, and remnants of the banned substance.
Imaobong urged the court to convict him.
She told the court that Bashir committed the offences on Dec. 22, 2018, adding that he was arrested at the Gate C, Departure Hall, Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, during an outward clearance of passengers on board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Dubai.
Imaobong said that Bashir conspired with one Joseph, Alhaji Ismail, and Alhaji Taiwo, who were still at large, to conceal 1.38kg of cocaine in a blue traveling bag for export to Dubai.
She said that the cocaine was, however, uncovered by security agents.
The offences contravene Sections 11 (b), 11(d) and 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
