32-year-old woman, Juliet Gabriel, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment for trafficking in 2.9 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos, ruled that the sentence, which was without an option of a fine, should commence from the day of judgment.
The judge convicted Gabriel following her prosecution by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The charge, filed by the NDLEA, reads: “That you Gabriel Chidinma Juliet, female, adult, on or about 15th November 2015 during the inward clearance of Emirate Airline from Dubai at the ‘E’ Arrival Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, |keja-Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court imported, without lawful authority, imported 2.9 kilogrammes of cocaine.”
The prosecution counsel, Dinneys Owen Fingere, said the offence contravened Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Juliet’s prison journey started on November 15, 2015, when she was arrested with the banned substance at the airport.
She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and trial commenced.
Fingere called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the Gabriel’s confessional statement, international passport, report of forensic analysis, bulk of the seized drugs, among others.
They were admitted by the court.