Justices Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court, lagos, has convicted and sentenced a Thai lady, Patthaphi Wimonnat, to five years imprisonment, for snuggling 46.60 Kilogrames of cannabis Sativa popularly called marijuana into Nigeria.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa convicted and sentenced the lady to the jail-term on Friday, after she pleaded guilty to one count charge brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convicted Thai, according to the NDLEA prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, was arrested with the cannabis Sativa, on February 20, 2025, at the arrival Hall of Terminal 2, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, ikeja, Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers aboard Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar.
Barrister Abu had told the court that the illegal actions of the convicted Thailand citizen, contravened section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The convicted Thai, admitted commiting the illegal act and pleaded guilty to the charge.
Based on her guilty plea, the prosecutor, while citing plethoras of authorites, urged the court to convict and sentence her based on her guilty plea, exhibits tendered.
However, the convict through her team of lawyers, begged the court to temper justice with mercy. Adding that the convict was deceived into making such a mistake.
The lawyers also told the court that the convict has “become remorseful and would do something differently if given a second chance”.
Justice Alagoa after listening to the lawyers’ allocutus, sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment.
However, he ordered her to pay N3 million fine option in lieu of imprisonment.
Charge Against The Convicted Thai reads: “That you Patthaphi Wimonnat, female, adult, on or about the 20th February 2025 at the Arrival Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, ikeja-Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers aboard Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar without lawful authority imported 46. 60 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
