While Ezeh Alexander Uche was convicted and jailed by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on four counts charge of of dealing in cocaine and marijuana, Smith David Korede, was given same jail term by Justice Deinde Dipeolu, on a three counts-charge of unlawful export of cocaine.
The dou’s journey to prison began following their arrraignment before the two judges by the operatives o the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in the charges marked FHC/L/30c/2025 and FHC/L/1132c/2025, respectively.
The prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, while arraigning the two convicts, told the court that they committed the offences sometimes in November 2024 and September 2025 respectively.
Specifically, Barrister Abu a Commander of Narcotics and Head of the Legal/Prosecution MMIA Ikeja, Lagos Command of the NDLEA, informed the court that the first convict, Ezeh Alexander Uche, committed the offences on November 5, 2024, by procuring the dou of Ekeocha Anayo Nelson and Olowolehin Sunday Olabode, to unlawfully export 4.40 kilograms of Cocaine and 11.50 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa also known as marijuana.
Barrister Abu told the court that the convict, Ezeh concealed the drugs in food stuffs and packs of plantain chips as Cargoes to United Kingdom via Cologne, Germany.
The prosecutor also told Justice Dipeolu that the second convict, Deborah Tolutope of Covenant Perfect Delivery, No. 3, Arowojobe Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, to export the prohibited drug.
He told the court that the convict, Smith David Korede, had concealed the drug as cargos to United Kingdom (UK), in Hair gel cream, Hair attachments, Rob, Dye and Aboniki (analgesic balm).
Barrister Abu had told the court that the actions of the two convicts, contravened sections 21 (2)(d); 20 (1)(a); of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 11(b) of the said Act.
The two convicts admitted committing the offences.
Based on their pleas, the prosecutor, while citing plethoras of legal authorites, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, the convicts lawyer, Emmanuel Uchenna Okenyin, pleaded with the court to consider early guilty plea of his clients as signs of remorse and that they have promised not to engage in any illegal acts.
He therefore urged the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients.
But the prosecutor, despite telling the court that the two convicts did not have any previous conviction records, however informed the court that they have been the brain of many drugs unlawful exportation.
Both Justice Dipeolu and Justice Aneke sentenced the convicts to five years imprisonment on each counts without fine option.
The judges however ordered that the jail terms to run concurrently
