Rita Odafe
Ogbonna was apprehended three months after expelling eighty (80) cocaine-filled wraps, after being arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
On Sunday, March 31st, Ogbonna was arrested while trying to board a flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, using a Liberian passport under the alias Carr Bismark. During a body scan, it was discovered that he had ingested illegal drugs.
While under observation in NDLEA custody, Ogbonna began to show signs of distress as the drugs in his system and a substance used to prevent excretion took a toll. He proceeded to vomit and pass wraps of cocaine he had swallowed.
Despite the grave danger to his health, Ogbonna claimed he was coerced by a relative to take on the drug trafficking task in exchange for a promise of N300,000 upon successful delivery in India.
Having been arraigned before Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac for violating the NDLEA Act, Ogbonna was handed a 25-year prison sentence without the option of a fine on Monday, July 1, 2024.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the MMIA Command and the prosecution team for their swift handling of the case. He emphasized the crucial role of the judiciary in combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria and highlighted that Ogbonna’s conviction should serve as a warning to others involved in such criminal activities.
