NDLEA Secures Cocaine Trafficker’s Conviction
A Nigerian, Akputa Dickson Ejike, was Wednesday convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment for trafficking in 5.80 kilograms of cocaine, by a Federal High Court Lagos.
He was convicted and sentenced to the jail-term by Justice Musa Kakaki who presided over the court, following his guilty plea to the two counts charge made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convict, Akputa Dickson Ejike according to the prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, was arrested with the prohibited drug, which he buried in the heads of imported dry stock fish locally known as “Okporoko.” on March 18, 2926.
The prosecutor had informed the court that the convict, who resides at no. 10, Peace Close, Alasela, Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos State, conspired with a woman called Madam Kelechi a.k.a. Madam KC, now at large, to trafficked and unlawful possessed the illicit drug.
The illegal acts of the convict according to the prosecutor contravened sections 14 (b) and 20 (1)(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under section 20 (2)(b) of the same Act.
The charges pressed on the convict reads: “that you Akputa Dickson Ejike, male and Madam Kelechi a.k.a. Madam KC (now at large) both adults on or about the 18th March, 2026 conspired to traffic in 5.80 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Akputa Dickson Ejike, male, adult of No. 10 Peace Close, Alasela, Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos State on or about the 18th March 2026 without lawful authority possessed 5.80 kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug for the purpose of exporting the said drugs and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 20 (1)(c) and punishable under section 20 (2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Immediately the charges were read to the convict, he admitted committing the illegal acts and pleaded guilty to the offences.
Based on his guilty plea, the prosecutor through one of the agency’s operatives, reviewed the facts of the charge, as well tendered all exhibits in the case.
Upon admitting of the exhibits by the court, the prosecutor prayed the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the relevant provisions of the NDLEA Acts and Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
But the convict through his lawyer, in his allocutor solemnly pleaded with the court for mercy, saying that he was a first time offender, while promised not to engage in any form of crimes if given second chance.
Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice while citing series of legal authorities and decided submissions made by both counsel, sentenced the convict to five years in each of the counts without fine option.
The judge however ordered that the jail-term shall run concurrently and to commence from March 18, 2026, when the convict was arrested.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of two phones belonging to the convict, and ordered that his international passport be confiscated and forwarded to Nigerian Immigration Service for cancellation.
