A mother of five, Irene Success Obehe, has been convicted and sentenced to a total of 24 months imprisonment, by a Federal High Court, Lagos, for trafficking prohibited drugs.
The mother of five, who according to her lawyer, Anthony Nnamoko, is equally a widow, was given the jail-term by Justice Akintayo Aluko, following her guilty plea to a two count-charge made against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convicted widow, according to the NDLEA was arrested with 4.80 Kilogrames of Raphnol and 400 grams of tramadol 100mg, on June 30, 2026, at the departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, on her way to South Africa on board Rwanda Air.
The prosecution had told the court that the convict’s acts, contravened sections 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Based on her guilty plea, the prosecution through its lawyer prayed the court to convict and sentence based on her plea, exhibits tendered and in accordance with section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The prosecution also urged the court to forfeit the convict’s two international passport, e-ticket and her Samsung Galaxy phone to the Federal government of Nigeria, for being instrumentalities used in the illicit drug trade. While also urged the court to release the bulk of the seized prohibited drugs for destruction in there is no appeal against the court’s judgment.
However, the convict’s lawyer, Barrister Nnamoko, pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client, saying that she was betrayed by a trusted friend who gave her the drugs but abandon her and her five children when she was arrested.
In praying the court for mercy, Nnamoko told the court that his client is a first time offender who did not have records of previous conviction, and the soul bread winner of her family being a widow. Adding that she had personally promised her not to go back to drug business.
Giving judgment on the matter, Justice Aluko after listening to the counsel prayers before the court, and after citing series of plethoras of legal authorites, sentence the convict to 18 and six months on the two counts respectively.
Considering the convict’s lawyer allocutor, the judge ordered the convict to pay the sum of N500, 000, as a fine option in lieu of the jail-term.
Charges against the convict read: “that you, IRENE SUCCESS OBEHE, Female, Adult, with Nigerian International Passport Number B51734666, on or about the 30th day of June, 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Rwanda Air to South Africa via Rwanda at Terminal 11, Departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority exported 4.80 kilograms of Rophynol, a psychotropic substance under international control and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, IRENE SUCCESS OBEHE, Female, Adult, with Nigerian International Passport Number B51734666, on or about the 30thday of June, 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Rwanda Air to South Africa via Rwanda at Terminal 11, Departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority exported 400 grams of Tramadol 100 MG, a Narcotic Analgesic similar to Cocairy LSD, Heroin and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable undé Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”