The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Ann, to 25 years in prison for importing 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu handed down the sentence on Thursday after Ann pleaded guilty to unlawfully importing the illicit substance into the country.
Ann was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in July at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while travelling with her three-year-old son.
She was apprehended during the inward clearance of passengers aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR1433, which arrived in Abuja from Doha.
The NDLEA had arraigned Ann before the court in August, accusing her of importing 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria on July 6.
In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu noted that the defendant had admitted to committing the offence in her extrajudicial statement before entering her guilty plea.
The judge held that under established law, a conviction follows a plea of guilty and consequently convicted Ann.
Following the conviction, the prosecution urged the court to consider the street value of the seized heroin in determining the sentence, stating that one kilogramme of the substance was worth about N18 million.
Ann, however, pleaded with the court for leniency, promising not to engage in drug trafficking again.
She told the court that she was remorseful and claimed that she did not know there were illicit drugs in the bag.
After hearing the parties and considering her plea for mercy, Justice Egwuatu said the law could not be influenced by emotions, stressing that “crime does not pay.”
The judge sentenced Ann to 15 years’ imprisonment on Count 1 and 25 years on Count 2, directing that the sentences run concurrently.
Justice Egwuatu further ordered that the seized heroin be destroyed if the convict does not appeal the judgment within the period prescribed by law.
