28th November, 2024
By Akin Kuponiyi/Lagos
A Lagos auto spare parts dealer identified as Ora Arinze has been sentenced to two and half years imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos after he pleaded guilty to charges bordering on alleged attempt to export 300 grammes of cocaine from Nigeria to Congo Brazzaville.
Arinze’s journey to jail began when operatives of NDLEA at the export shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, 11th September 2024 intercepted some cartons of auto spare parts and Checkers Powder Custard going to Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines.
A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grams of cocaine concealed in the containers of Checkers Powder Custard packed together with some auto parts.
A follow up operation led to the arrest of Arinze Ora, who deals in auto parts at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, Lagos state as the owner of the consignment.
Arinze was subsequently arraigned in court.
The charge against him as filed before the court by the NDLEA prosecuting Counsel Barrister Bibiana Anagu stated thus:
That you, ORA ARINZE, Male, Adult, on or about the 11th day of September,2024 during the examination and clearing of cargo for export to Congo Brazzaville at SAHCO Export Shed, a Custom Area of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport,lkeja-Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, exported 300 grammes of Cocaine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the charge was read to the convict, he pleaded guilty. Consequently, his lawyer urged the court to tamper Justice with mercy as the convict did not waste the time of the court by pleading not guilty.
Thereafter the convict was sentenced to two and half years imprisonment.
