A trader, Obijiofor Jones, was on Wednesday, sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Mohammed Idris, for attempting to smuggle 1.82 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine to Malaysia
The prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, had informed the court that the convict was arrested on May 31, 2014 during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Malaysia at the screening point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
At the resumed trial of the case, Abu informed the court that the convict who had pleaded not guilty when he was first arraigned last Thursday, had changed his plea, consequently, he urged the court to review the fact of the case.
After reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecutor urged the court to convict the accused as charged.
The convict claimed to be victim of circumstances, as the banned drugs he was arrested with was given to him by someone he did not know his name, address and whereabouts.
He also told the court that when the factory fitted bag was given to him, he was not aware that it was drugs. He, therefore, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
But the judge, before sentencing the convict, described his action as a stupid trust, noting that how could the convict accept a bag from someone he did not know. Thereafter, he sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment starting from the day of his arrest.
Justice Idris also ordered that the convict's international passport and travel ticket and the sum of 500 USD which were parts of exhibit tendered before the court be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
