Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman to 25 years in prison for smuggling 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
NDLEA had in August arraigned Jessica Ann before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where she pleaded guilty to unlawfully importing 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into the country on July 6.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, while handing down the sentence, held that before her guilty plea, the defendant had admitted to committing the offence in her extrajudicial statement.
He added that the law is settled that a conviction follows a plea of guilty.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently convicted her of the offence.
However, Ms Ann was allowed to an allocutus and she promised never to engage in such an act again.
She also expressed remorse, saying she did not know there were illicit drugs in the bag.
After hearing from the parties and considering the defendant’s plea for leniency, the judge said, “Crime does not pay”, adding that the law is not influenced by “emotions.”
The judge consequently sentenced her to 15 years’ imprisonment on Count 1 and 25 years’ imprisonment on Count 2, adding that the sentences shall run concurrently,
meaning she will serve 25 years in prison.
Justice Egwuatu also ruled that if the convict does not appeal within the prescribed period allowed by law, the heroin should be destroyed.
