Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a man, Shamsudeen Abubakar, arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), to six years’ imprisonment for illegally possessing and dealing in pangolin scales and claws weighing 1,014.5 Kilogrammes.
Justice Bogoro jailed Abubakar after he pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of illegal possession and trade of pangolin parts, brought against him by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The prosecutor, Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, had earlier informed the judge that the convict and others at large conspired to possess pangolin scales and claws obtained from poached pangolins.
Bode-Ayeni had claimed that on September 13, 2021, along Kudirat Abiola Way in Ikeja, Lagos State, the suspect and his accomplices traded in 1,014.5 kilogrammes of pangolin parts, which are protected under Nigerian law as products from endangered species.
The prosecutor maintained that the convict’s actions violated 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, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following his plea, Bode-Ayeni reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence him.
However, the defence lawyer urged the court to show mercy, stating that his client did not waste the court’s time and that he is now remorseful.
Considering the plea, Justice Bogoro sentenced the convict to two years’ imprisonment on each count, with the option to pay a fine of N200,000.
