Friday 11 December 2015

Man, 32, gets life jail for drug trafficking


A 32-year-old man, Lawrence Aluagu, was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court in Lagos, for drug trafficking.

Lawrence Aluagu was arraigned on March 8 and had pleaded guilty to the charge.

The judge had ordered his remand in prison, while she adjourned the case for a review of facts and sentencing.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Ofili-Ajumogobia sentenced the accused to life imprisonment.

“The accused person is found guilty of the offence as charged, and is accordingly convicted. He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. The drug exhibits are to be destroyed by the NDLEA,” she said

Reviewing the facts earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on February 12.

He said that the accused was arrested under Ojota bridge in Lagos, where he was reported to be in the business of selling cannabis sativa, also known as Indian hemp.

According to the prosecutor, about 200 grammes of the substance was recovered from the accused.

The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

During allocutus (plea for mercy) the convict had prayed the court to be lenient in judgment.

He had told the court that he was duped by an unknown soldier, after he paid him some money to help facilitate his recruitment into the Nigerian Army.

The convict had also told the court that he was a first time offender, adding that life had been difficult for him since the death of his parents.

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