Footballer jailed 2 years for drug trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a Brazil-based Nigerian footballer, Umeh Henry, to two years imprisonment, for drug trafficking.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris sentenced the accused after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Before sentencing the accused, Justice Idris expressed satisfaction that he told the court the truth, and had admitted committing the offence.

The judge, however, educated the accused on the negative effects of drugs, irrespective of its usage.

He ruled: “Having pleaded guilty to the charge before this court, the accused is hereby convicted as charged. He is accordingly sentenced to two years imprisonment, beginning from the date of his arrest.

“It is good that you have said the truth and God will forgive you; but do not take drugs anymore because any relief it gives you is only temporary. So, when you get out of jail, do not engage in drug use again,” the judge admonished.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr. Vembe Emmanuel, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 6, 2014, at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

He said the accused was arrested during the inward clearance of an Emirate Airline flight from Brazil, with about 15 grammes of cocaine recovered from him.