Court sentences Sudanese to two years for drug trafficking

A federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced a Sudanese, Guma Ismail Mahdi Abdalla, to two years imprisonment for trafficking in hard drugs. Justice Salliu Saidu sentenced Abdalla to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of the charge brought against him by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The agency alleged that the convict was trafficking in 1.44 kilograms of Methamphetamine. NDLEA prosecutor, Ali Ibrahim, told the court that the convict was arrested with the banned powdery substance on June 24, 2019, at Gate ‘A’ of the departure hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, during an outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopia Airline Flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
   
Ibrahim told the court that the substance is one of the Psychotropic Substances under International Control. Adding that the offence committed by the convict is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 
   
The convict, who did not have any legal representation, pleaded guilty to the charge, urging the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old boy and 25 men were yesterday dragged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates‘ Court in Lagos State over alleged participation in a violent protest and causing a breach of peace at Itire area of Surulere. Ibrahim, 17; Ifeanyi, 33; Kazeem, 30; Fredrick, 45; Abubakar, 29; and 21 others were arraigned on four counts bordering on manner likely to cause a breach of peace, conspiracy and acting in a disorderly manner in the public.

Each of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the four-count. The prosecutors, Ibijoke Akinpelu and Chinalu Uwadione said the defendants committed the offences on October 19, at Itire in Surulere. Akinpelu alleged that the defendants had engaged in a riot disrupting the peace of the neighbourhood and acting in a disorderly manner, which contravenes Sections 45, 54, 168 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Adeola Adedayo, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each with one surety each in like sum. She adjourned the case until November 18 for mention.