Guinean bags two-year jail term in Nigeria for wildlife trafficking

A native of Guinea identified as Mamoduo Barete has been sentenced to two years imprisonment in Nigeria for wildlife trafficking.

The Nigeria Customs Service in a statement on Thursday confirmed this after Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos convicted and sentenced Barete for trafficking and trading Pangolin Scales, a prohibited and Endangered wildlife species.

“Mamoduo Barete’s conviction was secured by the Nigeria Customs Service on charges of conspiracy, trafficking and trading in Pangolin Scales, an offence contrary to and punishable by section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004,” Customs said.

“The sitting judge, Justice Yelim Bogoro, sentenced Barete to two years imprisonment or the option of paying a sum of N500,000 fine.

“He also said that the period spent with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Correctional Service shall be considered and recorded.”

According to Customs, the convict is one of the suspects arrested in a joint operation with the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) in December 2022.

The partnership between the NCS and WJC is said to be one that works, and they are committed to continue to working together to target these transnational organized crime networks.

Customs said Barete’s conviction has raised the Service’s convictions in illegal wildlife cases to no fewer than 11 between May and December 12, 2023.

It added that tens of other wildlife trafficking suspects are standing trial in courts across Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Customs Service is one organisation that is leading by example; they are doing the job and making the whole world proud through the unrelenting effort and coordination by the NCS Special Wildlife Office and the prosecutors.”