A Nigerian businessman who recently returned to the country from Brazil, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, has been convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for unlawful importation of 1.50 kilograms of cocaine, by Justice Alexander Owoeye of a Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Owoeye slammed the convict with the jail-term after he pleaded guilty to a count charge preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convict was charged with unlawfully bringing 1.50 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria on January 29, 2026.
The prosecutor, Arrit N. Okon informed the court that the convict was arrested with the drug during the inward clearance of passengers at the E-arrival Hall of Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The prosecutor further informed the court that the convict arrived on a South African Airways flight originating from São Paulo, Brazil, with a stopover in Johannesburg, South Africa, before landing in Lagos. Adding that the illicit substance was discovered during routine screening procedures conducted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The amended charge against the convict reads: “That you, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, male, adult, with Nigerian International Passport Number B50060786, on or about the 29th day of January, 2026, during the inward clearance of passengers on South African Airways flight from Sao Paola, Brazil via Johannesburg, South Africa to Lagos, Nigeria at the E-arrival Hall, Terminal 1 of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority imported 1.50 Kilograms of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
The convict admitted committing the offence, and pleaded guilty to the one-count charge marked FHC/L/199c/2026.
Following his guilty plea to the charge, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the matter, tendered exhibits which included the bulk of the drug, his confessional statement, his ECOWAS international passport and others.
Upon concluding the review of facts of the matter, the urged the court to convict and sentence the Brazil returnee according to the exhibits tendered, his confessional statement and in accordance with section 247(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
However, the convict’s lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara in his allocutor prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, saying that he was a first time offender.
He also prayed that the court to consider the early guilty plea of his client as a sign of remorse.
Justice Owoeye in his judgment after considering submissions of counsel, and after citing plethora of legal authorities, sentenced the convict to 15 years imprisonment.
The judge, however, ordered the convict to pay the sum of N2 million in lieu of the jail terms.
