How A 56-Year-Old Man Was Jailed Two Years For Cocaine Trafficking

Yesterday, a Federal High Court in Lagos State handed down a two-year prison sentence to Livinus Igbokwe, aged 56, for trafficking 1.2 kilograms of cocaine.

Justice Ibrahim Kala sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and trafficking of the banned substance brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Justice Kala however gave Igbokwe an option of N500,000 fine in lieu of the jail-term.

NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Augustine Nwagu, told the court that Igbokwe was arrested on February 9, 2024, with the prohibited drug at Ekeson Motor Park on 100, Badagry Expressway, Orile-Igamu, Lagos.

According to him, Igbokwe conspired with two other persons – Nick and Emmanuel, now at large, to commit the illegal acts. He said the convict and the others trafficked the drug from Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra State.

“This contravenes Sections 14(b) and 20(1)(c) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.

The convict pleaded guilty to the charges.

But defense lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, in his allocution, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

Ndakara, after citing legal authorities, urged the court to consider the option of fine in lieu of the custodian sentence.