A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a businessman, Ajah Uchenna, and his wife, Rosemary, to a combined 22 and a half years in prison for trafficking illicit drugs.
According to a statement by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the couple was first arrested on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ojo area of Lagos. They were handed over to the NDLEA along with 277.5kg of cannabis, commonly known as skunk.
While in custody, further intelligence led operatives to raid the couple’s residence, where an additional 231kg of the same substance was discovered in a storage facility on July 1.
The couple was subsequently arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, drug dealing, and illegal possession of a total of 414.2kg of cannabis sativa.
On Monday, Justice Deinde Dipeolu convicted Mrs. Rosemary Uchenna on three counts and sentenced her to 17 years imprisonment without the option of a fine. Her husband, Johnson Ajah, was convicted on two counts and received a five-year sentence for one, and six months for the other, with an option of a N1 million fine.
In addition to the custodial sentences, the judge also ordered the forfeiture of N3.407 million recovered from the couple proceeds believed to be from their drug dealings to the Federal Government.
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