An Abuja Federal High Court has sentenced one Oluwaseyi Anifowoshe to eight years imprisonment for involvement in drug trafficking.
Anifowoshe who was charged on a two-count charge, was sentenced to four years for the first count and four years for the second.
The presiding judge, Okon Abang said that both terms of imprisonment were to run concurrently from the date of arrest which was October 25, 2017. Abang ordered the convict to submit her International passport to the Federal Government alongside her E-ticket to the prosecution.
He also ordered that the 500 rand found in her possession and all other exhibits be sold and remitted to the Federal Government.
Anifowoshe was before the court in an amended two counts charge dated January 11 and filed January 15.
Count one charge was against section 21 (e) of the NDLEA Act and was punishable under section 22 (a) of same Act, while count two was contrary to section 11 (b) and was punishable under the same Act.
Count one of the charge attracts a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 25 years in prison while count two attracts life imprisonment on conviction.
Anifowoshe was sometime in 2017 arrested at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in possession of 1.9kg of cocaine and 3kg of Ephedrine.
She was arrested during an outward clearance of Ethiopia Airline to Johannesburg, South Africa through Addis Ababa.
The convict initially pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against her by the NDLEA, but later pleaded guilty on January 22.
She said that she was a victim of circumstance who was given two boxes with different things in it to deliver to someone in South Africa by her boyfriend.
She said her boyfriend; Isaac Agoro did not disclose to her that he concealed illicit drugs in the boxes. Abang cautioned Anifowoshe for making herself available to a fraudster.
“What made you not to check the bags given to you and you agreed to carry them with you to a country you had never been to. You cannot just have a university degree and not be intelligible because much is expected of you.
“If you were a drop-out, it would be understandable.
“She allowed someone she met on Facebook to influence her instead of her to look for gainful employment; self employment, privately or publicly employed,” he said.
According to him, the court owes the society a duty to make drastic decisions against people who search for quick virtue or money without legitimately working for it.
“Cocaine has ruined the lives of young people at home and abroad and has likewise tarnished the image of the country.
“We should be careful with whatever we do and this should serve as a strong warning to others with such negative intention,” he said.
The judge said that he was inclined although reluctant to give the convict the opportunity to turn a new leaf.
“I will show compassion and give her the opportunity to be a useful person.
“I hope she will take advantage of the lenient position of the court to have a second chance,” he said.
During the judgment, Anifowoshe wept uncontrollably, but jubilated when the judge made his judgment pronouncement.
