•Convicts jubilate after verdict
Three Bolivians jailed for a six-year term yesterday for unlawful production of banned substances – Ephedrine and Methamphetamine were seen rejoicing.
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted them after they were found guilty of the crime.
Following the judgment, the three convicted foreigners were all smiles as they left the courtroom, apparently happy to have escaped the maximum sentence.
They hugged each another and even posed for photographs.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned Reuben Jorge, Yhugo Moreno and Yerko Dorado on two counts illicit drug dealing.
They pleaded guilty to the charge. They earlier pleaded not guilty, but later changed their plea when they were re-arraigned.
The convicts had been in detention since February 3, 2013 when they were arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at Daily Times Estate, Satellite Town due to their inability to meet their bail terms.
The convicts were allegedly housed by their Nigerian accomplices between November 2011 and February 2012 before their arrest.
The offence violated Section 22 (a) of the NDLEA Act and attracts life imprisonment or a minimum of 25 years.
Justice Oguntoyinbo, however, sentenced the convicts to six years on each count, which will run concurrently with effect from February 3, 2013 when they were arrested.
In effect, the convicts will spend less than three years in jail.
The judge held: “It is, therefore, in the light of Section 22(a) and Section 12 of the NDLEA Act, that these three defendants, having been found guilty and convicted of the offences alleged in counts one and two of the charge dated the 18th day of February, 2013, are now sentenced on count one to a period of six prison years and on count two, to a prison period of six years.
“Both sentences shall run concurrently and shall be calculated from the date the defendants were first arrested, which is the 3rd day of February 2013. Both defendants and the NDLEA have a right of appeal.”
The convicts were granted bail for N50million each following their not-guilty plea when they were first arraigned
The bail condition included that one of their sureties must own a landed property in Lagos valued at not less than N10million, while the other must be a Bolivian citizen with resident permit in Nigeria.
The convicts were also ordered to deposit all their travel documents with the court.
They, however, could not meet the bail conditions.