The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos Thursday sentenced four foreigners to six years imprisonment for wildlife trafficking.
The convicts are three Vietnamese – Phan Viet Chi, Phan Hong Quan and Duong Van Thang – and a Guinean, Mory Berrette.
Justice Yelim Bogoro convicted the four following their plea of “guilty” to an amended four-count charge after a plea bargain.
Specifically, the court sentenced each of the four men to three years imprisonment on the first count or the sum of N500,000 each as fine instead of imprisonment.
“Two years imprisonment on the second count, or instead of imprisonment pay the sum of N2 million each as a fine.
“That the convicts shall each pay a fine in the sum of N2 million each for the third count, being first-time offenders.
“That the convicts shall each be sentenced to one-year imprisonment on the fourth count or instead of imprisonment pay the sum of N200,000 each as fine.”
The four have been in custody since May 2021 (14 months ) and standing trial since last year alongside two Nigerians, Babangida Mahmoud and Olamilekan Adenekan, and a Cameroonian, Fofou Dadjo Evariste.
The seven defendants were arraigned by the NCS on July 22, 2022, for alleged illegal possession dealing in, assembling, storing, smuggling and trading in pangolin scale and elephant’s ivory, they were arrested during joint wildlife enforcement operations by Nigeria Customs Service( NCS) and Wildlife Justice Commission( WJC) in May 2021.
The prosecution informed the court that all the defendants committed the offences between 2018 and 2022, in Lagos.
The defendants pleaded not guilty initially and the trial commenced.
On June 12, the Vietnamese defendants’ counsel, Mr Anthony Ikariale told Justice Yelim Bogoro that they have written to NCS for a plea bargain agreement but that the process was yet to be concluded.
He prayed the court for a short adjournment.
The NCS’ Director of Prosecution, Mr Smart Akande, who led Mr Michael Osong, confirmed Ikariale’s position.
Justice Bogoro granted the application and adjourned till July 19
At the resumption of trial on Wednesday, Mr Akande leading Mr Osong, appeared for the prosecution.
Akande informed Justice Bogoro that the “1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants have hinted to our office that they’re willing to change their plea.
“Under that, we have filed an amended charge which we urge the court to adopt and take the plea of the defendants.”
Following the court’s approval, the amended charge was read to the first to fourth defendants.
They pleaded guilty to each of the four counts.
Justice Bogoro held: “The prosecution had called its first witness which gave evidence and was duly cross-examined. But on the 12th of July, 2023, the 1st to 3rd defendants hinted to the court about their intention to change their plea via a plea bargaining arrangement.
“Today, 19th of July, the prosecution filed the terms of the plea bargain agreement. Given this, I find the 1st to 4th defendants guilty as charged and adopt the sentence therein.”
But the 5th, 6th and 7th defendants maintained their “not guilty” plea.
The judge granted an application by the prosecution to confiscate the pangolin skins recovered from the defendants and adjourned till the 5th, 6th and 7th to 9th of November for the trial of the 5th, 6th and 7th defendants.
The Nigeria Customs Service and Wildlife Justice Commission partnership has secured 8th convictions and still counting between 2021 and now, a major disruption of the criminal network and a strong warning to illegal Wildlife traders and traffickers.
This and all other convictions being recorded by NCS indicate that the wheels of justice do move in Nigeria and defendants spending almost 1.5 years in custody should be a deterrence to wildlife criminals, and Nigeria will not hesitate to take action against transnational trafficking groups.
Suspects not charged remain wanted by authorities for their crimes.
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