The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Thursday sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Ann, to 25 years’ imprisonment for smuggling 5.75kg of heroin into Nigeria.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu said the law does not respect emotions.

Ms Ann was arrested when she trafficked the substance through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had, in August, arraigned Ms Ann before the court, where she pleaded guilty to unlawfully importing 5.75kg of heroin into the country on July 6.

The NDLEA revealed that the woman was arrested in July while travelling with her three-year-old son.

She was arrested during an inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways Flight QR1433, arriving from Doha.

Delivering the judgement, Mr Egwuatu held that the defendant had admitted to committing the offence in her extrajudicial statement before her guilty plea.

The judge said the law was settled that a conviction followed a guilty plea. Mr Egwuatu consequently convicted her of the offence.

Following her conviction, the prosecution urged the court to factor in the cost of 1kg of heroin, worth about N18 million, when sentencing her.

Ms Ann, however, begged the court to temper justice with mercy. She promised never to repeat the act. She also said she was remorseful and did not know illicit drugs were in the bag.

After hearing from the parties and considering the defendant’s plea for leniency, the judge said, “Crime does not pay.”

The judge noted the law is not influenced by “emotions”.

The judge consequently sentenced her to 15 years’ imprisonment on count one and 25 years’ imprisonment on count two. He ordered that the sentences shall run concurrently.

The judge also ruled that if the convict does not appeal within the prescribed period allowed by law, the heroin should be destroyed.

(NAN)