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NDLEA saves mother of two from execution

By Odita Sunday
20 May 2016   |   2:29 am
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a 38-year-old mother of two children, Obudike Faith Ndidiamaka, from execution in China, where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.
The suspect, Ndidiamaka

The suspect, Ndidiamaka

As court jails fake drug dealer for five years

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a 38-year-old mother of two children, Obudike Faith Ndidiamaka, from execution in China, where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.

This followed her arrest by anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during outward screening of passengers on Kenyan Airways flight to China. She was found with 1.155kgs of cannabis hidden in melon.

The NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garba, said the suspect, Obidike concealed the drugs in melon and foodstuff. “She was caught while travelling to China with 1.155kg of compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. Investigation into the case is in progress and she will soon be charged to court,” Ahmadu stated.

The suspect who lives in Onitsha said she was contracted by her social media friend to smuggle the drugs to China. “I am a trader. I used to travel to China to buy my goods since 2014. My WhatsApp friend asked me to buy the drug and take to China. He promised to give me a handsome reward when I get to China.

“Unfortunately, the drug was detected during search at the Lagos airport. I am married with two children,” Obudike, who hails from Imo State, said.

Chairman of the agency, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, who condemned her action, said that the agency needs fund to embark on aggressive anti-drug public enlightenment.

According to Abdallah, “it is sad that while government is worried over the number of Nigerians on death row in other nations, a mother of two children is still smuggling drugs to China where drug trafficking is punishable by death.

“Her arrest here has saved the country from embarrassment. It has equally prevented her family from the pain of losing a loved one under the circumstance. The NDLEA will not relent in saving lives and promoting the image of Nigeria.”

In another development, a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday convicted a businessman, Sylvanus Nwanoro, for dealing in counterfeit drugs. Justice Ibrahim Buba sentenced the convict to five years’ imprisonment with a N500,000 option of fine.

The judge, however, condemned the action of the convict. He lamented the effects of taking codeine by youths, which he said was as a result of the action of people like the convict.

Buba commended the prosecution and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for doing a good job and urged it to continue to rid the country of counterfeit and fake drugs.

Nwanoro, 37, was arraigned on five charges bordering on illegal possession and sales of counterfeited drugs (Cof ‘N’Cold with Codeine Syrup).

Earlier, the prosecutor, Umar Shamaki, told the court that the offence was committed at No 5, Ekeh Macaulay St., Iba area of Lagos State, the residence of the accused.

The convict had pleaded guilty to one of the charges prompting the prosecution to review the facts of the case before the court. In his plea of allocutus (mercy), the convict asked for a second chance. He said he was a first-time offender and was now remorseful of his action.

Nwanoro was arrested by a team of NAFDAC officials from its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in October last year at a popular hotel in Okokomaiko, a Lagos suburb. The convict wanted to deliver the already produced and packaged cough syrup to a customer.

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