The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted a Brazil-based Nigerian, Okeh Desmond Simon, for cocaine trafficking. Okeh had complications due to ingestion of the banned substance.
Justice AbdulAziz Anka sentenced him to 24- month imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a one count charge of trafficking in 1.806 kilogramms of cocaine.
Okeh was arrested on May 27 at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, following an emergency landing of an Emirates Airline Ek 262, which departed Sao Paulo, Brazil enroute Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
A medical test conducted on him showed that the convict ingested cocaine and suffered adverse reactions. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Simon had pleaded guilty to the charge when he was arraigned on August 10. His lawyer, Bayo Onifade, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict.
Justice Anka sentenced him to two years imprisonment. The judge also ordered that the seized drug be destroyed.