Three Drug Offenders Sentenced in Enugu

The Federal High Court in Enugu sentenced three first-time drug offenders to eight months in prison each on Thursday. They pleaded guilty to different charges of having illegal drugs.

Justice M.T. Segun-Bello gave the sentences after looking at their guilty pleas, their status as first-time offenders, and the small amounts of drugs found on them. There were no serious factors that made their cases worse.

The judge said the sentences aimed to help the offenders change for the better, not just punish them. He urged them to live lawfully after finishing their time.

The first offender, Ogbonna Dike, 30, faced a two-count charge for having 0.92 grammes of methamphetamine and 60 grammes of cannabis sativa.

Prosecutor Orji Kalu told the court that NDLEA operatives arrested Dike in Okpanku, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State on April 5. After he pleaded guilty, the judge convicted him based on the NDLEA Act and sentenced him to eight months in jail without a fine option.

Justice Segun-Bello also said that any time Dike spent in custody would count toward his sentence.

In another case, Onyinyechi Ugwueze, 30, admitted to having 5.1 grammes of methamphetamine. She was caught by NDLEA operatives in Nsukka, Enugu State.

The court noted that Ugwueze was a first-time offender and that the amount of drugs found was small. She received an eight-month prison sentence but had the option to pay a fine of ₦100,000 instead.

N.E. Nnabueze handled the case for the NDLEA.

Another offender, Mmesoma Calista Nnajiuba, 22, pleaded guilty to having 355 grammes of cannabis sativa. She was caught at Monastery Road, Amorji Nike, in Enugu East Local Government Area.

Justice Segun-Bello found her to be a first-time offender as well. The amount of cannabis she had was considered small, and there were no serious issues in her case. She was also sentenced to eight months in prison with an option to pay a ₦100,000 fine.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that none of the defendants had a lawyer present.

In her comments, Justice Segun-Bello explained that the court focused on helping the offenders change because they were first-time offenders who confessed and showed they could improve. She warned them not to return to drug-related activities, saying future law violations could lead to much harsher punishments.

The convictions were made under the NDLEA Act after the defendants admitted to the charges against them.