Court sentences man to 25 years for drug trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Carr Bismark, also known as Ogbonna Charles Freeman, to 25 years imprisonment for attempting to unlawfully export 889 grams of cocaine

After Bismark pleaded guilty to the charges brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu issued the sentence. Prosecutor Mr. Abu Ibrahim stated that Bismark was arrested on March 31, 2024, during the outward clearance of a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha at Screening 2 of the New Terminal, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The prosecutor noted that the act violated section 20(1)(a) of the NDLEA Act and was punishable under section 20(2)(a), which mandates a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for drug trafficking. During the proceedings, Bismark admitted to the offense, leading to the prosecution presenting all relevant evidence. Despite his lawyer, Dennis W., pleading for leniency and citing legal precedents, Justice Dipeolu chose to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law.