ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Ann, to a total of 25 years in prison for unlawfully importing 5.75 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his judgment, convicted the woman after she pleaded guilty to the drug-trafficking offence.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ann was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after arriving in Nigeria on Qatar Airways Flight QR1433 from Doha.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had earlier arraigned Ann before the court, where she pleaded guilty to importing 5.75kg of heroin into Nigeria on July 6.
The NDLEA said the accused was arrested while travelling with her three-year-old son during the inward clearance of passengers at the airport.
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Delivering judgment, Justice Egwuatu noted that before entering her guilty plea, Ann had also admitted to committing the offence in an extrajudicial statement.
The judge held that the law was settled on the legal effect of a guilty plea, stating that a conviction follows where an accused person pleads guilty to an offence.
Following the conviction, the prosecution urged the court to consider the street value of the seized narcotic in determining the appropriate sentence, noting that one kilogramme of heroin is worth approximately N18 million.
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The convict, however, pleaded with the court for leniency. She told the court that she was remorseful and promised never to engage in drug trafficking again.
Ann also claimed that she did not know that the bag contained illicit drugs.
After considering the submissions of both parties and the convict’s plea for mercy, Justice Egwuatu stressed that criminal offences cannot be excused on the basis of emotions.
The judge stated that “crime does not pay”, adding that the law could not be influenced by emotions.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently sentenced Ann to 15 years’ imprisonment on Count One and 25 years’ imprisonment on Count Two.
The court ordered that both sentences should run concurrently, meaning she will serve the sentences at the same time, subject to any applicable legal process.
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The judge further ordered that if the convict fails to appeal within the period prescribed by law, the seized heroin should be destroyed.
The case underscores the severe penalties attached to the unlawful importation and trafficking of controlled substances in Nigeria.
