Freeman Charles Ogbonna, a Delhi-bound passenger, has been sentenced to twenty-five (25) years imprisonment by a Federal High Court. His conviction comes after he was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for drug trafficking. The incident occurred three months ago when Ogbonna was caught vomiting and excreting eighty (80) wraps of cocaine at the screening point of Terminal 2 in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

According to NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Ogbonna was apprehended on March 31 while attempting to board a flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways. He was using a Liberian international passport under the name “Carr Bismark.” A body scan revealed that he had ingested illicit drugs. Unable to retain the drugs in his stomach, Ogbonna vomited and excreted the cocaine. During interrogation, he confessed that a relative had recruited him into drug trafficking.

Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos, presided over the case. In his ruling, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ogbonna to 25 years in prison without the option of a fine. Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, commended the MMIA Command and the prosecution team for their swift handling of the case. Marwa emphasized that Ogbonna’s conviction sends a strong message to other drug traffickers that there will be no safe haven for their illicit activities.