A fake couple, llonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum, and their matchmaker, Ngene Emmanuel Onyedikachi, have been sentenced to 22 years in prison for trafficking cocaine.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Thursday, sentenced the convicts to a total of 22 two years imprisonment with options of fines on each of the charges.
During their trial, it was discovered that Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi’s real name is Uwaezuoke Ikenna, while Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum is Igwebuike Florence Nkechi.
The three convicts were first arraigned before the court last week Friday by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a five count-charge bothering on conspiracy and trafficking in contraband drug.
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The prosecutor, Mr Augustine Nwagu, told the court that the fake couple and their matchmaker, Emmanuel Onyedikachi, were arrested on August 1, 2023, during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight to India, via Addis Ababa, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Nwagu further told the court that the three committed the offences alongside two others, Mr Patrick Okechukwu and Mr Ifeanyi, who he noted were still on the run.
The prosecutor also told the court that the first convict was earlier arrested and was standing trial before an Abuja Federal High Court on alleged drug trafficking.
All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
The lawyer to the defendants, Chief Benson Ndakara, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients.
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