A South Africa returnee, Raji Adio, was on Tuesday sentenced to 38 years’ imprisonment by Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos for drug trafficking.
Adio was convicted of three counts bordering on conspiracy and unlawful possession of 5.10 kilograms of heroin.
He was arraigned for by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency.
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According to Punch, Adio was arrested on September 3, 2017, during an inward clearance of a South African Airways flight to Lagos, at the E-Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Adio was said to have conspired with one Segun and Eddie, who are now at large, while in South Africa, to import the banned drug to Nigeria.
It was gathered that the convict concealed the heroin in the false bottom of his two travel bags.
The offences were said to be contrary to and punishable under sections 11(d), 11(a) and 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act, 2004.
During the trial, the NDLEA counsel, Juliana Iroabuchi, called witnesses and tendered 13 exhibits, including the drugs seized from the convict, his passport, test analysis of the seized drugs and foreign currencies.
Delivering his judgement on Tuesday, Justice Obiozor held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The state police command also confirmed Fr. Madu’s abduction.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with Punch Metro, said the command was tracking the kidnappers.
On August 2, 2019, Fr. Offu was also killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
Before Fr. Offu’s murder, Rev. Fr. Paulinus Ilo was attacked by suspected herdsmen along the Numeh-Nenwe Road in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.
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Drug trafficking