The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has secured the conviction of a man, Shamsudeen Abubakar, who was arrested by the operatives for unlawful possession and dealing in pangolins scale and claws weighing 1, 014.5 Kilogrames.
Abubakar was convicted by Justice Yellim Bogoro of a Federal High Court Lagos, on Friday, after he pleaded guilty to the three counts charge of illegal possession and trading in pangolin scales and claws, made against him by the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS).
NCS prosecutor, Barrister Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, who led Barrister Vivian Aigbadon, informed the court that the convict and other suspects who are currently at large, allegedly conspired to possess pangolin scales and claws sourced from poached pangolins.
Prosecutors said the convict offence committed the offences on September 13, 2021, along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos State. Adding that the convict and other at large, traded in 1,014.5 Kilogrames of pangolin scales and claws, classified under Nigerian law as products derived from endangered species
The prosecutor informed the the illegal acts of the convict contravened sections 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011 and punishable under section 7(4) of the same Regulations.
The convict admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Based on his guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict and sentence him.
But the convict through his lawyer prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, on the ground that his client did not waste the time of the court, and other.
Justice Bogoro in her judgment, sentenced the convict to two years on each counts.
The judge however ordered the convict to pay N200, 000, as a fine option.
Charges against the convict read: “That you, Shamsudeen Abubakar, male, adult and others now at large, on or about the 13th day of September, 2021, along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to commit felonies, to wit: being in possession of Pangolin scales and claws, sourced from poached Pangolins, classified as endangered species, which possession is absolutely prohibited in the First Schedule of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, Cap.E9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Shamsudeen Abubakar, male, adult and others now at large, on or about the 13th day of September, 2021, along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, traded in Pangolin scales and claws weighing 1, 014.5 Kilogrames, sourced from poached Pangolins, classified as endangered species, which possession is absolutely prohibited in the First Schedule of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, Cap.E9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 5(1) of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) (Amendment) Act, 2016 and punishable under section 5(1)(a) of the same Act.
“That you, Shamsudeen Abubakar, male, adult and others now at large, on or about the 13th day of September, 2021 along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession Pangolin scales and claws weighing 1, 014.5 Kilogrames, sourced from poached Pangolins, classified as endangered species, which trade is absolutely prohibited in the First Schedule of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, Cap.E9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011 and punishable under section 7(4) of the same Regulations.”
