In a recent ruling, the Federal High Court in Lagos has handed down a four-year prison sentence to Akanbi Silifat Tunrayo and her sponsor, Adebayo Adeola Wasiu, for their involvement in an attempt to smuggle 2.90 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The defendants pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of unlawfully exporting the banned substance, which was brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Presiding Judge Daniel Osiagor delivered the punishment, assigning each convict a two-year prison term along with two weeks of community service. However, the judge also provided them with an alternative option to pay a fine of N2 million in lieu of the jail sentence, taking into consideration their plea for leniency.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that the defendants committed the offenses on April 19, 2023, while attempting to clear passengers for a Qatar Airways flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia via Doha.
According to the evidence presented, Wasiu collaborated with Alhaja Rashidat, also known as Mama Yinka, and another individual named Asumon, who are currently at large, to enlist the assistance of Tunrayo in smuggling the prohibited drug. The convicts concealed the cocaine by hiding it within cotton wool.
The actions of the defendants were in violation of sections 11 (b) and 21 (2) (d) of the NDLEA Act of 2004.
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