Court adjourns judgment to July 11, as suspect pleads guilty on 42.2kg drug trafficking charge

A Federal High Court, Lagos, has adjourned to July 11 to deliver judgement in a charge against a 37-year-old defendant, Samuel Bitrus, after he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charge.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned the defendant before Justice Yelin Bogoro, on a four-count charge of exporting 42.2 kg of cannabis sativa to the United Kingdom.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

After his plea, the prosecutor, Mrs Juliana Iroabuchi, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered 20 exhibits before the court.

Following the review of the facts, without any objection from the defence, the court adjourned the matter until July 11 for sentencing.

According to the charge, the defendant allegedly committed the offence on Feb. 20 at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport during the examination of cargo bound for the United Kingdom (UK).

The prosecutor stated that the defendant conspired with one James, a boat pilot, and one Richard Okechukwu, who resides in the UK, to export the narcotics.

She added that the defendant exported a total of 42.2kg of cannabis, concealed in a false bottom of crated cartons made of wood.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant unlawfully possessed narcotics similar to cocaine, heroin, and other LSD-related substances banned by law.

The offences contravene Sections 1(b), 11(d), and 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. (NAN)