A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a 24-year-old man, Emmanuel Chekwube, to seven years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Justice Lewis Allagoa sentenced the convict after he had pleaded guilty to the four-count charge of drug trafficking.

Allagoa, however, gave the convict an option of five million naira fine.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had arraigned Chekwube on charges of conspiracy, illegal storage of restricted drug, unlawful use of premises to store banned narcotics and unlawful deal in narcotics.

He had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, the Prosecutor, Ms M.

I. Erondu, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several exhibits before the court, such as: a statement of the defendant, a drug analysis form and packaging of substance form.

Also tendered were: remnant of the narcotics, request for scientific aid form and transparent pouch, among others.

The prosecutor then urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea as well as the evidences adduced.

Consequently, the judge convicted the defendant as charged.

Before the sentence, the defence had prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy, saying that as his client was a first time offender and that he would turn a new leaf.

Delivering his verdict afterwards, Allagoa sentenced Chekwube to seven years imprisonment on each count, which, he said, would run concurrently.

He, however, gave the convict an option of five million naira fine.

In the charge, the convict was said to have committed the offences on May 7 at Amukoko, Ijora area of Lagos.

He was said to have used the premises to engage in illegal storage of 56.2 kg Tramadol Hydrochloride, 1.2 kg Nitrazepam and 72g of Swinol

All the substances are said to have been listed in the NDLEA schedule as banned narcotics, thus contravening the provisions of Sections 12 and 14(b) of NDLEA Act, 2004. (NAN)

 The police on Wednesday arraigned a 40-year-old man, Umaru Garuba, before an Akure Magistrates’ Court for allegedly biting off the ear of a suspect in police detention.

The police Prosecutor, Insp Adebayo Suleiman, told the court that the defendant was arrested on June 5 for stealing N35,000 belonging to one Yakubu Salisu and detained in the A Division Police Station, Akure.

Suleiman said that the defendant, on June 6 in the police station’s cell, used his teeth to cut off the ear of one Tope Oladele who was also in the cell.

The offences, according to him, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 390 and 335 Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. I, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him.

The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case, Insp Yetunde Daramola, told the court that a policeman had to force the severed ear out of the defendant’s mouth.

The Defence Counsel, Mr O.O. Oladapo, applied for bail for the defendant in liberal terms, stating that his client was still presumed innocent until otherwise proved.

The Magistrate, Mr Damilola Sekoni, adjourned the case till June 16 for ruling on the bail application. (NAN)

 An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday remanded three men at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl (name withheld).

The state government arraigned Owhe Oghenero, Kingsley Oni,  and  Olorunwa Abina on a one-count charge of defilement.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Rahman Oshodi thereafter remanded them at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, where they were currently being held.

Oshodi adjourned the case until Oct. 27 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, the state counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometime in 2023 at Aradagun Area in Badagry, Lagos.

Okeowo alleged the defendants defiled the girl, by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

She said the prosecution would present  five witnesses against the defendant.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.(NAN)