Two Men Jailed For Trafficking In Pangolin Scales, Elephant Tusks
A Federal High Court, Lagos, Friday, convicted and sentenced two men to two years imprisonment each, for trafficking in huge elephant tusks and pangolin scales.
The convicted wildlife animal traffickers are: Anthony Onyebuchi and Monday Nnamanni.
The convicts were arrested in 2022, following an intelligence provided by the Wildlife Justice Commission in conjunction with the Special Wildlife Office of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Consequently, they were slammed with conspiracy and unlawful possession of 839.4 Kilogrames of Giant Pangolin Scales (Manis gigantea) and 145 kilograms of Elephant Tusks (loxedonta africana),
Their illegal actions were said to be contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And section 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011 and punishable under section 7(4) of the same Regulations.
They were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each, following the plea bargain agreement reached with the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS).
They were however ordered to pay a total sum of N2 million each, as fine option in lieu of the custodian sentence.
The court also ordered forfeiture of the pangolin scales and elephant tusks weighing 839.4 kg and 145 kg respectively to the Federal Government.
The two convicts were previously arraigned before the court sometimes in 2023, alongside John Kanu and Obinna, who have pleaded guilty to the charge and were convicted and sentenced on September 7, 2023.
Based on the conviction of Jude Kanu and Obinna, the Nigerian Customs Service through its lawyers, Michael Osong, Vivian Aigbadon and T. E. John, amended the charge marked FHC/L/123C/2022, to reflect the names of the convicts.
Th amended charge against them reads: “that you, Anthony Onyebuchi, Male, Adult, Monday Nnamanni, Male, Adult and others now at large, on or about the 2nd day of February, 2022, at a warehouse at Adeba in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: being in possession of 839.4 Kilogrames of Giant Pangolin Scales (Manis gigantea) and 145 kilograms of Elephant Tusks (loxodonta africana) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Anthony Onyebuchi, Male, Adult, Monday Nnamanni, Male, Adult and others now at large, on or about the 2nd day of February, 2022, at a warehouse at Adeba in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, were found to be in possession of 839.4kg of Giant Pangolin Scales (Manis gigantea) and 145 kilograms of Elephant Tusks (loxedonta africana), being wildlife products, endangered species, derivatives of specimens absolutely prohibited in the First Schedule of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, Cap E9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011 and punishable under section 7(4) of the same Regulations.”
However, at the resumed hearing of the charges sometimes last week, the convicts signified their intentions to change their plea, hence their ‘not guilty plea’ was taken on the amended charge, and they equally entered a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.
Parts of the plea bargain agreement reads: “that the two defendants shall be convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for the first count of conspiracy or in lieu of imprisonment, pay the sum of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each, as fine; while for the second count of being in possession of wildlife products, they shall be convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, or in lieu of imprisonment pay the sum of N1, 500, 000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira Naira) each, as fine.