The Convicted Widow When Arrested
Justice Tijjani Ringim of a Lagos Federal High Court, has convicted and sentenced a widow, Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, who attempted to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia, to two years imprisonment.
Justice Ringim convicted and sentenced the widow, following her change of plea to the charges of unlawful dealing and export of the prohibited substance, made against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Osun State born widow’s journey to the Correctional Center began in November 13, 2022, after she was arrested with 400 grams of cocaine, at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the outward clearance of passengers to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
She was said to have conspired with one with one Olanreaju Abdulai Ramon, to commit the illegal act.
Upon conclusion of investigation, she was arraigned before the court on February 9, this year, on charges of conspiracy and unlawful exportation of the banned substance.
To commit the act, the prosecutor, Mrs. Juliana Imaobong irobochi, had told the court that the convicted widow, concealed the drug in a pair of black sandals you wore.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Imaobong irobochi, had told the court that the offences according to the contravened sections 11(b) and 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The convict had denied the offences and and pleaded not guilty to the two counts charge.
With her not guilty plea, the prosecutor had urged the court remand the convict till the determination of the charges against her.
The prosecutor remand request was granted by the court, due to inability of the widow’s lawyer, Bolanle Kolawole, to file her bail application before the court.
However, at the resumed trial of the convict on Thursday, she informed the court of her intention to change her ‘not guilty plea’, which she had earlier pleaded when first arraigned.
Following her decision to change her plea, the court ordered that the charges be re-read to her for plea to be retaken.
Upon her guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the crimes and urged the court to convict and sentence her in accordance to the sections of NDLEA Act that she was charged with.
But the convict’s lawyer, Kolawole in her allucutor, told to the convict is a Widow and a grandmother. Adding that her husband was sicked for three years and all their properties were sold in order to restore the man back to life but all efforts failed.
The counsel told the court that the convict had became remorseful of her action, and begging the court prosecution and Nigeria at large, to forgive her, and also promised not to repeat offence if given a second chance.
The lawyer said her client is praying the court and God for forgiveness and that She would have been a dead person if not for this court. She therefore urged court to temper justice with mercy. To consider this month Christmas, which she said it’s a month of mercy and to show mercy to her client, who has been in custody since the date of arrest.
Justice Ringim after listening to parties’ submissions, sentenced the with to two years on each of the count.
The judge however ordered her to pay a fine option of N100,000, 00 on the second count. While also ordered the NDLEA to return to the convict the sum of $200 USD and her phone, at the completion in the jail-term.
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