Court Jails Clearing Agent 30 Years For Importing Cannabis, Forfeits Firm To FG

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday has sentenced a clearing and forwarding agent, Napoleon Osariemen, to a total of 30 years imprisonment, for conspiracy and unlawful importation of 2 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa popularly called marijuana.

Justice Ayokunle Faji, who presided over the court, also ordered that the company used in smuggling the banned substance be wind-up and be forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.

However, the third defendant in the charge, 37 years old Olasupo Olakemi, was discharged and acquitted, on the ground that she can not be linked with the offences made against them by the prosecuting agency, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

The convicted clearing and forwarding agent, Napoleon Osariemen, his company, NAPOSA Cargo Logistics Investiment Limited and a female, Olasupo Olakemi, were brought before the court on a two count charge of conspiracy to unlawfully import 2 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa and unlawful importation of the same banned weed.

They were first arraigned before the court in a charge marked FHC/L/475c/2016, something in the year 2016.

In the charge, the convicts were said to have  on October 8, 2016, at NAHCO Import Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, without lawful authority, conspired among yourselves; with one Tony Adele, a.k.a Mr. James and Mr. Gbenga, of 1161, Weston Road, Toronto, Canada, M9N, 3P8, being a Consignor of the goods, to import, dispatch, delivery and 2 kilograms of Cannabis sativa.

They were also accused to have on October 7, 2016, during the examination of “your Cargo at NAHCO import Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, without lawful authority, conspired with with one Tony Adele, a.k.a Mr. James and Mr. Gbenga, and the duo of James Chukwu and James Okorodafor Ike (both Customs Licensed Clearing Agents at the NAHCO import shed) to import 2 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa”.

The offences according to the prosecutor, are contrary to Sections 14(b) and 11(a) of the National Drug Law Entorcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of The Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in various terms.

During the trial, the prosecutor, Mr. Ogwubor I. J., called a total of 10 witnesses and tendered several exhibits, which included the Convict’s confessional statement, bulk of the seized drug, results of laboratory tests and others.

Justice Faji had  yesterday, after legally weighing the arguments canvased by the prosecutor and the defendants’ counsel, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the two counts charge against the Convict and his company.

The judge consequently pronounced the Convict and his company guilty as charged and equally convicted them and discharged and acquitted the third defendant, Olasupo Olakemi.

The judge then adjourned till today, for sentencing of the two convicts.

At the resumed sentencing of the convicts today, Justice Faji, after citing plethoras of legal authorites, sentenced the clearing agent to 15 years each on both counts one and two, which he ruled to run concurrently. While he  ordered that the Convict’s firm, NAPOSA Cargo Logistics Investiment Limited, be wind-up and forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria.