Connect with us

Crime

Nigerian Businessman Jailed For 5 Years For Importing Container Load Of Tramadol

Published

on

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Friday, sentenced a businessman, Ifeanyi Ezeanwu, to five years imprisonment, over importation of a container load of Tramadol and other sex enhancing drugs.

The convict was sentenced by Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari, after the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) had reviewed the facts of the charge before the court.

The convict was first arraigned before the court in February 2015, on a one count charge of unlawful importation of the said drugs.

Apart from series of Tramadol tablets, other banned drugs said to have been imported by the convict include: Ibamol tablet of 50 mg, and Heogra tablet of 150 mg.

The offence, according to the prosecution, contravenes the provisions of section 1(a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous provision) Act Cap. C34, Law of the Federation 2004.

The convict had pleaded not guilty during his first arraignment, but when the case came up at the last adjourned date, he changed his plea to guilty, while the court adjourned the case until today, for a review of fact and sentence.

Reviewing the facts of the case on Friday, the prosecutor, Umar Shamaki, narrated to the court how the convict was arrested by NAFDAC operatives.

Mr Shamaki also tendered several items which including the convict’s confessional statements, samples of banned drugs, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

After the review, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convict according to Section 3(1) of NAFDAC Act.

Mr Shamaki told the court that the NAFDAC Act prescribed a payment of N500,000 fine, or a prison term not less than five years and not more than 15 years.

Meanwhile, counsel to the convict, Vivian Ekwegh pleaded with the court, to be lenient in sentencing the accused, as he was a first time offender.

In sentencing the convict, Justice Rabiu-Shagari, held: “the prosecution has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, especially, as there is no other way of proving a case than self-admittance”.

She, consequently, convicted and sentenced the convict to a term of five years imprisonment from date of arrest.

The court, however, gave the convict an option of fine of N300,000.

Crime

Guinea-Bissau former president’s son, Malam Bacai Sanha Jr jailed in US for trafficking drugs to fund coup

Published

on

By

The son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau was sentenced to more than six and a half years in prison for involvement in a transnational heroin trafficking conspiracy, the US Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, 52, planned to use the proceeds to finance a coup in the West African country that would lead to his eventual presidency and establishment of a “drugs regime,” according to the statement released by the US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

“Malam Bacai Sanha Jr. wasn’t any ordinary international drug trafficker,” said Douglas Williams, special agent in charge of the FBI Houston Field Office. “He is the son of the former president of Guinea-Bissau and was trafficking drugs for a very specific reason – to fund a coup.”

Sanha was a leader and organizer in the heroin trafficking conspiracy and was involved in its importation from Europe to the United States, according to the statement.

He was arrested along with a co-conspirator after arriving in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, in July 2022. They were extradited to the United States shortly afterwards.

In September 2023, Sanha pled guilty “to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance for the purpose of unlawful importation,” according to Tuesday’s statement.

Guinea-Bissau has had a history of military coups interspersed with periods of democratic rule – though elected leaders managed to serve a full term since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1974.

Sanha’s father, Malam Bacai Sanha, was initially installed by a junta as interim leader in 1999 before he lost the election the following year.

He won the presidency in a 2009 election but died while seeking medical treatment in Paris in January 2012 before completing his term.

His son, known as “Bacaizinho” in Guinea-Bissau, has served in several government roles, including as an economic advisor to his father.

Continue Reading

Crime

Court sentences Chinese to death for killing Nigerian girlfriend

Published

on

By

The Kano State High Court has sentenced a Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Ummukalthuum Buhari.

Recall that Quangrong allegedly killed his erstwhile girlfriend, Buhari, following a misunderstanding.

We had reported that Quangrong was accused of culpable homicide in the death of his girlfriend, Buhari, but denied killing her intentionally and pleaded with Justice Sunusi Ado Ma’aji of the Kano State High Court to temper justice with mercy.

In his testimony on Tuesday, Quangrong claimed that he stabbed his girlfriend in self-defence after she allegedly grabbed his testes in September 2022.

“I didn’t kill Ummulkhulsum intentionally but stabbed her in self-defence after she grabbed my testes,” Ouangrong said.

Continue Reading

Crime

Four arrested as police raid fake drinks factory in Lagos

Published

on

By

Policemen attached to the Isokoko Division of the Lagos State Police Command have raided a house in Agege where fake drinks are being produced.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a video shared on his X handle on Thursday.

According to Hundeyin, during the raid, four persons believed to be the masterminds behind the illegal distillery were arrested, and fake drinks were recovered among others.

His caption read, “Officers of Isokoko Division, acting on credible information, raided a house in Agege where fake alcoholic drinks were being produced.

“The police arrested four people behind the illegal distillery and recovered fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of different brands. Investigation is ongoing.”

Continue Reading

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

Most Read...