Two brothers, Abugu John Onwuima and Abugu Kenneth have been jailed two years each for unlawful exportation of narcotic drugs.
The sentencing was given by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Justice Ambrose Alagoa delivered the judgment on Monday, May 12, 2025 after both convicts pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of drug trafficking brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The judge however gave them an opinion of a fine in the sum of N3m, each, totalling N6m.
During their arraignment, the NDLEA’s prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, told the court the convicts were apprehended on April 4, 2025, at the departure hall of the new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos
He said they were arrested during the outward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight bound for India.
The NDLEA alleged that both men attempted to export 2.5 kilograms of cocaine each without lawful authority.
The charge, filed under Charge No: FHC/L/2025, stated that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
During proceedings, Ibrahim presented the facts of the case, while the defence counsel, Benson Ndakara, informed the court that both men had accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty.
Justice Alagoa, in his ruling, sentenced each of the convicts to two years imprisonment, with an option of N3m fine.
The court held that the sentence was in line with the provisions of the law and the defendants’ plea of guilt, adding that the judgment served as a warning to others involved in drug trafficking.
Both convicts are expected to either serve their jail terms or pay the fine as imposed by the court.
