Guinean bags 2 years jail term for wildlife trafficking

Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a Guinean, Mamoduo Barete, to two years imprisonment for trafficking and trading pangolin scales, a prohibited and endangered wildlife species.

According to a statement on the official X handle of the Nigerian Customs Service on Thursday, Mamoduo Barete’s conviction was secured by the NCS on charges of conspiracy, trafficking and trading in pangolin scales, an offence contrary to and punishable by Section 516 of the Criminal Code, 2004.

The statement partly read, “The sitting judge, Justice Yelim Bogoro, sentenced Barete to two years imprisonment or the option of paying a sum of N500,000 fine.

“He also said that the period spent with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Correctional Service shall be considered and recorded.”

According to the NCS, the convict is one of the suspects arrested in a joint operation with the Wildlife Justice Commission in December 2022.

The statement added that the conviction has raised the service’s convictions in illegal wildlife cases to no fewer than 11 between May and December 12, 2023.

“Tens of other wildlife trafficking suspects are standing trial in court,” the statement read.