DRUG CONVICT COLLAPSES IN COURT AFTER SENTENCING IN BENIN
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A 34-year-old drug convict, Tope Ayanwale, on Tuesday collapsed in court shortly after being sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with an option of a N10 million fine by a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City.
Ayanwale, who was arraigned before Justice B. Quadiri, reportedly slumped moments after the sentence was pronounced. She was immediately attended to, stabilised, and subsequently taken into custody to begin serving her sentence.
The court found her guilty of unlawful possession of 1.272 kilograms of cannabis sativa, 2.1 grams of methamphetamine, and 176 grams of tramadol.
In a related development, two other drug traffickers — Etinosa Bazuaye, 43, and Godfrey Osabuohien, 34 — were on March 25 sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment each.
Bazuaye, convicted for possession of 13 grams of cocaine, was given the option of a N6 million fine, while Osabuohien, prosecuted for possession of 15 kilograms of cannabis, received an option of a N3 million fine.
The convictions were secured by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In his remarks, Justice Quadiri stressed the dangers of drug trafficking, linking it to violent crimes such as armed robbery and banditry, and emphasised the need for stiff penalties to deter offenders.
Reacting, the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, commended the judiciary for what he described as a firm and decisive judgment.
He noted that the convictions align with the agency’s renewed efforts under its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, to dismantle drug networks and prosecute offenders.
“The conviction of Tope Ayanwale sends a clear message that Edo State is hostile territory for drug traffickers,” Ofoyeju said.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining its crackdown on drug-related crimes and urged the public to support its operations with credible information.
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