Lagos spare parts dealer jailed for drug trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced Ora Arinze, a Lagos auto spare parts trader, to two and a half years in jail after he entered a guilty plea to charges related to an alleged attempt to export 300 grammes of cocaine from Nigeria to Congo Brazzaville. 

Arinze's road to prison started on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, when NDLEA agents at the Lagos airport's export shed stopped some boxes of auto parts and Checkers Powder Custard that were travelling on Ethiopian Airlines to Congo Brazzaville. 

300 grammes of cocaine were found hidden in the containers of Checkers Powder Custard packaged with certain auto parts after a thorough check of the cargo.

The owner of the consignment, Arinze Ora, who sells auto parts at Shop 12, Block 7 Aspanda Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin region of Lagos, Lagos state, was apprehended following a follow-up investigation. After that, Arinze was arraigned in court. 

Barrister Bibiana Anagu, the NDLEA prosecution counsel, filed the following charge against him in court:

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.

The convict entered a guilty plea after being told the charge. Because the convicted person did not waste the court's time by entering a not guilty plea, his attorney requested the court to mix justice with mercy. 

The convicted individual was then given a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

Source