By Akin Kuponoyi
A Lagos drug baron, Akindele Kumoluyi a.k.a. Ile-Eru is to spend the next 10 years behind bars.
The sentence was handed down this morning by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos after the accused drug baron pleaded guilty to two count of criminal charges of importation of illegal drugs, and aiding and abetting a courier to import illegal drugs.
Initially, Akindele, who was standing trial before Justice Tijani Abubakar, pleaded not guilty to charges against him.
However, this morning he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty after the charges were read to him.
In the first charge, Kumoluyi was accused of importing 10 kilogrammes of cocaine while in the second charge, he was accused of aiding Abdul Fatai Olori, to import a consignment of illegal substances from Brazil.
The charge was filed by the NDLEA Director of Prosecution and Legal Practices, Femi Oloruntoba, who urged the court to convict him as charged.
In his plea for leniency, the counsel to the convicted baron, Wahab Shittu, said the court should be lenient because he lost his father during his incarceration.
The counsel said Ile Eru has an aged mother who is over 80 years, and she has been traumatised by this case, adding that the convict has had no contact with his wives and 10 children and that the children’s education has been affected.
Shittu further appealed to the court to be lenient. He cited Mathew 6 : 9, Mark 10 and likened the case of the convicted baron to that of a prodigal son.
In his own reaction, Mr. Oloruntoba told the court that the convict had no previous record of conviction.
In his judgement, Justice Tijani Abubakar said the allocutus of Shittu is unprecedented and asked when he became Pastor and Imam.
Consequently he sentenced the convict to 20 years imprisonment, five years for each count charge, to run concurrently from the day of his arrest.
He has already spent three years in prison.
Ayo
18 March 2008 17:39Let him rot in jail, did he “ile Eru” care about the lives he has destroyed with the hard drugs he has been importing (so why should anybody care about his wives and children)????
Bashua
18 March 2008 18:18I hope he will learn from the jail and come out to be more disciplined and live a normal life. Where are all the praise singing musicians? Kwam 1 etc? Can’t they be training his kids in his absence afterall they live on his dirty business.
Let him rot in jail, did he “ile Eru” care about the lives he has destroyed with the hard drugs he has been importing (so why should anybody care about his wives and children) Let him dance to the music he has been playing.
18 March 2008 18:21He is a disgrace to that village,let him rot there if the court likes how cares.
Let him rot in jail, did he “ile Eru” care about the lives he has destroyed with the hard drugs he has been importing (so why should anybody care about his wives and children) Let him dance to the music he has been playing.
18 March 2008 18:26Let’s be greatful to GOD that he has been caught after all these artrocities.
idris
18 March 2008 19:11This is a good riddance to bad rubbish.I commend the judge for his stern judgement .The light sentence others before him have been receiving was like a tonic to make them continue their deadly venture.This sentence will make others think twice before engaging on this souless business.
ilumode
18 March 2008 19:35I am highly disappointed by the pleadings of the defense counsel, Wahab Shittu; a man I had a great respect for. Where art thou your religious and moral convictions? It has been said that an average Nigerian will do and say anything for money and this is a big confirmation to that respect. That a Nigerian can sell his mother for a pot of porridge has now been confirmed by our “learned friend”. Who cares if this goon dies and rot in jail! He does not belong in a decent environment and so should rot in jail as nobody but his motley of crowd will miss him.
Akeem
19 March 2008 02:455 years for each count to run concurrently? taking in consideration that he has spent 3 years in custody, does this mean he only gets 2 additional years.
And if i’m correct 5 years in jail may be no more than 3 calender years.
That means he’s due for parole straight away or what. I’m confussed.
pastor glory
19 March 2008 13:50Kudos to the NDLEA I pray the Lord will continue to help us to eradicate the like of ILE ERU from the land scape of our country,becuase they are examples of bad role models. I do also pray that God would expose those who are still in hiding,disguising as politicians,business men,and even religious people in Jesus name, amen.
Tunde Ikeja
19 March 2008 17:50I strongly disagreed with Ayo about his comments though I am not supporting the baron either but its the choice of the drug user /takers (drug addicts) to destroy their own precious life.Its a matter of choice in selling and buying.
Zach Mubito
19 March 2008 20:02There’s nothing glamorous in hard drugs. It ruins lives. So, I commend the judge for removing this criminal from our society for a long time. A message to others in the trade, we do not care about your exotic cars and your big palaces built with dirty money, if you’re caught, you’ll swap these for a life behind bars, for real! A special thank you to the NDLEA officers who triumphed in their duties to bring this inevitable justice.
Mr Wise
20 March 2008 01:38All you who give the previous comment …. What do you mean with the word ….You gusy your self are you clean … is the govt it self clean ….. you should all ask your self that question before you judge the guy …. Count from the govt …. evry body in this deadly country should be in JAIL….. You should all wait till i become the Antorney General of the Fedration or the President of the Country ….. Peek you eyes out side the country and check on USA .. That is a country whom is proud of the citizen and not 9ja … You guys also should think 2wice ….. If the Govt is good and we have people doing dad then we could say…. If una they chop 3 square meal they thank una GOD 4 9ja
Mr Wise
20 March 2008 01:41I have lots of typographical error there …. Who cares …. I am annoyed abt my fellow SUFFERS thinking like the Stupid govt that make crazy laws… WHO CARES …. Wow … We got freedom of speech
Ade Jolaosho
23 April 2009 11:03It just came to my notice today (20th April 2009) that someone, purporting to be me, had made a comment in support of the culprit in the above article at about 22:17 on the 18th March 2008.
Kindly note that I did not make such comments and have, in fact ,never read this article before today.
My situation epitomes how easy it is for anyone to impersonate someone else for what ever reasons on the net.
I thank Mr Ofofon of PM News for promptly removing the offensive article as soon as it was brought to his notice
Dr Ade Jolaosho
Leicester
U.K