Nigerian footballer jailed 2 years for trafficking drug

A Nigerian footballer based in Brazil, Henry Umeh, will spend the next two years in prison after he was convicted for drug trafficking.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, had arrested Umeh on 6 October, 2014, at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, during the inward clearance of an Emirate Airline flight from Brazil, with about 15 grammes of cocaine recovered from him.

While delivering his judgement, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, educated the footballer on the negative effects of drugs, irrespective of its usage. He therefore sentenced the accused after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge preferred against him by the drug busting agency.

He ruled in his judgement:

"Having pleaded guilty to the charge before this court, the accused is hereby convicted as charged. He is accordingly sentenced to two years imprisonment, beginning from the date of his arrest.

It is good that you have said the truth and God will forgive you; but do not take drugs anymore because any relief it gives you is only temporary.

So, when you get out of jail, do not engage in drug use again."