UGWU GEOFFREY V. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

CHINWE EUGENIA IYIZOBA, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellant and the 1st accused Gabrielle Onyebuchi Obi were arraigned before Okechukwu Okeke J of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division in Suit No. FHC/L/89C/2011 on a two count charge; the first conspiracy to import 165 Kilogram of Cocaine into Nigeria; and the second importation of the said 165 Kilograms of Cocaine into Nigeria. Judgment was delivered on the 17th day of May, 2013 wherein they were convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on the first count and 5 years on the second count, the sentences to run concurrently for 15 years.

THE FACTS:

The case as made out by the Respondent is that the Appellant (2nd Accused) and Gabriel Onyebuchi Obi (1st Accused) conspired with other persons at large to import and actually imported a container with No. MSCU 1287231, containing 165 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria. The Respondent in furtherance of its case tendered a copy of the bill of lading of the said contai…