A lady has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency after her friend who promised to take her to Dubai, the United Arab Emirate planted a drug, Cannabis Sativa in one of her luggage.
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The lady, Obidike Ugochukwu Maureen, said she never knew her friend, Ebere Ohakwe Sandra, could set her up.
Maureen said: “My friend did not tell me she had drugs in the luggage she checked in on my name.
“She told me that it was all foodstuffs but it turned out to be cannabis.
“I feel very sad.”
Sandra on the other hand confessed that she wanted to take the parcel of drugs out of Nigeria for her travelling agent who promised to give her free visa.
The drug, weighing 19.8kg, were about to be exported to Dubai, United Arab Emirate when the ladies were arrested.
The arrest took place at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during the screening of passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai.
The drug was concealed in foodstuff and local alcoholic beverage called Alomo Bitters.
The NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar, while confirming the arrest, said that the case was under investigation.
Umar however added that 78 parcels of dried weed were discovered in the luggage of Maureen.
Sandra, who lives and sells foodstuff in Dubai, said her travel agent told her to smuggle cannabis in exchange for her visa.
Sandra said: “I used to export foodstuff to Dubai since 2012.
“Each time I go to Dubai, I stay for two months and come back because I have no permanent visa.
“I came to Nigeria since December 2014 to spend the Christmas and New Year at home.
“While I was preparing to go back, my travel agent in Dubai called me that somebody will give me a parcel to take to him.
“My first question was that I hope it is not cocaine.
And he said that it was not cocaine but weed and that it was not something serious.
“He also promised me that if I could take it to him, he would prepare my next visa for free.
“I agreed to take it.”
Sandra, a 2010 graduate of Economics of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, also confessed that she implicated her friend.
Her words: “Maureen is my friend, We met in Port Harcourt and had been chatting always.
“She told me she would like to visit Dubai to buy clothes because she sells female clothes.
“We concluded that we would both travel to Dubai when I’m returning in January 2015.
“Since she had only hand luggage, I decided to check in some of my luggage in her name because I had 80kg and did not want to pay the excess charge.
“Unfortunately, NDLEA discovered drugs in the luggage I checked in her name and we were both arrested.
“I regret accepting to take the drug.”
The NDLEA Chairman, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, called on travellers to be sure of the content of their luggage before travelling.
“Members of the public must take necessary preventive measures to ensure that they have no drugs in their luggage. They must also not collect luggage from people when travelling. This is very important because such luggage may contain drugs,” Giade said. - Punch
What will happen to the lady that didnt know of the weed?I hope they set her free and not punish her along with the culprit.
Whats Lawyers take on this?The lady who confessed can change her statement in court,especially if she gets a smart lawyer..afterall the drugs were not found in her luggage.
Ladies don dey get mind sha...I pray they dnt punish d innocent one alongside with d culprit herself.
ReplyDeleteshe wld learn frm dis. friend ko friend ni
DeleteWhat are u up to? BORED? Need a gud laugh?
If you need a pick me up, click this link
LIFE ENCOUNTERS
That is so sad. I pray God helps her out of this predicament
ReplyDeleteFriends stabbing Friends since 19kiridim....
ReplyDeleteLesson learned.
Stella thanks for posting my comment.
Appreciate much.
Jeeezzz,i feel sorry for the innocent lady!
ReplyDeleteAnd she claims the other lady is her friend?
ReplyDeleteGuess she doesn't know the meaning of friendship.
If she can easily implicate her friend like that, then she is a dangerous and wicked woman.
I hope the confession is being recorded sha.
ReplyDeleteSome so called friends sha
ReplyDeleteThis is the reason I don't check in luggage for anyone at the airport. I can't even trust anyone with my personal luggage. I can't shout o!
DeleteGod something she knew nothing about some friends are heartless why did she not put it in her own luggage mtcheew I hope they free the innocent girl
ReplyDelete#GODWIN
Dey both look familiar. God help dem.
ReplyDeleteIts good to be wary of company we keep. 'Alakoba' will not know our doorstep.
ReplyDeleteAmin o, dis reminded me of a lady sitting besides me b4 our flight announcement dat I shld keep watch on her bag cos she wants to buy water @genesis, instantly I jump o frm d seat say I want use rest room. Mtchw for dis porta. ..lol, I no fit English to NDLEA officials o
DeleteLol@ rudegirl.. sharp girl
DeleteWicked lady.
ReplyDeleteDid she have to?
Even if she gets a smart lawyer and changes her statement, there'll be retribution that follows.
But then,hopefully,justice will prevail.
It ws a voluntary confessionary statement & will definitely bind on her since it wsnt made under duress..
ReplyDeleteThe quest to 'belong' tho..
Lol, Stella no be western world we dey, na naija. She has confessed and it's been recorded, nothing like retraction. If she try am na crase dem go flog commot for her head.. U've heard of Nigerian police' method of catching a tiger yeah? Catch a cat, torture it mercilessly until it agrees its a tiger. Lol..
ReplyDeleteAs for the innocent one, I dunno what her verdict will be. They say ignorance is not an excuse. I hope they set her free anyways..
Lessons learned;
Awoof dey purge belle.
Love all, but trust none.
The fear of bad friends, is the beginning of wosdom.
It's well oh!
Actually darling, in Nigeria accused persons retract their extrajudicial statements all the time. What happens is, after the investigating Police officer records the voluntary statement of the suspect, a charge is preferred against the suspect(s) who is (are) now referred to as the accused or the accused person.
Delete
The accused is then arraigned before a competent court where a plea is entered by the accused, guilty or not guilty. If the accused pleads guilty to the charge, the case will be tried summarily and judgment entered that same day (usually) but if it's a "not guilty plea", the matter will be set down for hearing. Assuming the lady in this case enters a not guilty plea, when the prosecution seeks to tender her extra-judicial statement as evidence against her, her lawyer will raise an objection on 1 of the 2 grounds. Either on the ground that she made the statement under duress hence the retraction or, she wasn't the one who made said statement, in other words, the signature at the end of the statement isn't hers. If it's on the ground of duress, the court orders a proceeding known as trial within trial to test the voluntariness of the confessional statement. Witnesses will be called by both the prosecution and the defence to establish coercion or voluntariness. At the end, the judge rules either in favour of the accused or the prosecution. If the judge believes the confessional statement was made voluntarily, it will be admitted into evidence as an Exhibit. Even at that, the confessional statement which is now an Exhibit, will not be used against the accused until it has been subjected to the statutory tests of admissibility of confessional statements.
If the objection is on the ground that she wasn't the author of the confessional statement, the court exercises it's discretion whether or not to admit it into evidence then the veracity will be determined by comparing her handwriting with that on the confessional statements. At the end of the proceedings, it's the Judge who determines her guilt or otherwise, based on evidence adduced by both parties. Of course, a sound criminal lawyer can always "do and undo".
The other lady framed has no business being charged to court as an accomplice, rather the prosecution can call her as one of their witnesses to prove their case against the accused.
Retraction happens almost everyday in criminal matters, some do it just to stall the inevitable.
@Ronalda. Wow. I actually read all of it. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. TK.
DeleteTanks ronalda. GOD BLESS
DeleteYou're welcome, darlings.
DeleteHmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteTrust no one
Sandra u don enta oh, 2comot e no easy oh!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't help anyone at the airport. Evil friend,
ReplyDeleteThat's how one airport official wanted me to help him check a dog into the aircraft with my name. Em say owner of dog de ph but dog de lagos. Na so I curse d guy warn am we'll well.
We all have to be careful. The times we live in are bad
Gobe !
ReplyDeleteHopefully she will stick to her statement so that they can set her friend free.
ReplyDeleteBad bad bad friend!
ReplyDeleteHope they set the innocent one free.
#sips tea
Frenemies everywhere. Na wa for world people.
ReplyDeleteMay we never be at the mercy O̶̷̩̥̊͡Æ’ our frenemies.
Amen
Unfortunately,they'l not set d lady free...drug was discovered in a luggage checked-in in her name...anywz,dis is naija,anytin can happen.I've seen som1 I know paraded in d newspaper for drugs b4,2 weeks later he was cruising around town in his posh car again
ReplyDeleteWahala!
ReplyDeleteAnd she use her own to implicate the friend... . Too bad
ReplyDeleteGod will have mercy on us oo
ReplyDeleteYour mates are smuggling cocaine and you're smuggling weed.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with people these days?
Make una dey chop better wiych abeg.
I tire oo.....
DeleteShe'll walk free after her confession. However I hope she was made to put her confession into writing with her signature.
ReplyDeleteThe friend should thank her stars that she had the conscience to exonerate her of the crime. Else, na prison sure pass. Meanwhile they should be happy they found them out in Nigeria and not in dubai.
Stupid girl. How much is visa that u had to carry weed? $250 is what u cannot afford after working for years in dubai? Na wa o. That's why they want to ban Nigerians from that country. Why must we destroy any little opportunity given us? Now you will let it affect those who ply that route to make genuine living. Stupid girl.
My dear Sisi Eko, she will definitely go to trial despite her friend's confession and i honestly doubt she will walk free"strict liability".She may get a light sentence if she has a good lawyer to state her case.
DeleteThe reason i say this is there are security and baggage regulations.You are expected to pack your bags yourself and you must know what you are carrying, they specifically ask these questions at the Airport.I feel for her though,God will see her through.
You are right Whirlwind. I meant she would work free eventually after all said and done. As in after the court proceedings. For sure they'll be charged to court.
DeleteThank God that Maureen confessed.
ReplyDeleteSo why is the picture of the innocent lady up there and prolly splashed on d pages of newspapers???
ReplyDeleteWhy is her name being mentioned???
What kind of nonsenr is this???
As per d wicked friend,with friends like u,who needs enemies???
Was wondering same oh, since the other lady has confessed that her friend knew nothing of it, they would have let her continue her journey. That friend is a witch, why didn't she check in the bag with the cocaine in her own name, I pray they discharge the other lady, cos this country can jail people for crime they no nothing of, while the corrupt politicians are set free. God please help her
Delete@TGW the concluding part of your story we had been waiting for wal hilarous yday. I couldn't stop laughing. I commenting yday but it comments refused to post. LMAO . So how far the TV addiction abi they succeded in praying out. Hahahahahahaaaa you are very very funny. Loved the gist
DeleteOdus Odus,don't be guilty by association o!
DeleteHhahahaahahhhaahaha
@TGW hahahahha *winks*
DeleteAll because of $100 visa which is even cheaper when you use emirates.
ReplyDeleteA graduate of economics speaking like an illiterate. An illiterate sef knows that cannabis is illegal.
This will teach her what she refused to learn while in school.
I hope the poor friend will be released.
Case of FRENEMY. Ladies beware
ReplyDeletePlease, she should be set free.
ReplyDeleteThis NDLEA people and their juju they use in catching people with drugs....
ReplyDeleteAlways acting like they are working while they are the most corrupt people in this country....
Make sure you settle them before smuggling any drugs or else,you would be busted....
The lady in white looks like someone I know sef...
They will be freed jare,na money matter....
Ghen ghen! See Gobe.some frnds sha
ReplyDeletechaiii people re wicked oo. they did the same thing to my cousin brother, his friends planted drugs in his luggage and it was discovered at the airport and he serves 2yrs in prison (UK) after that they deported him straight to Nigeria. he came back and start life all over again. becareful with the kind of friends u go out with.
ReplyDeleteStory for the gods.
DeleteWhat is cousin brother?Your cousin's brother? Isnt your Cousin's brother your cousin?Oh well,or you mean Male cousin?
DeleteAda onyema...was wondering too o.
DeleteThis is sheer wickedness. I hope Maureen is vindicated. Naija babes will do anything to keep up big girlz appearances.
ReplyDeleteChai! Bad friends. No be today una start to kill person.
ReplyDeleteHow to make your own floral headband
Hope they will set her friend free. Come to think of it, why didn't she checked her bag before allowing her friend to check it in. It is a pity she fell into that trap.
ReplyDeleteI hope she will be set free dem don give her free publicity for newspapers. Friends can do friends. Na wa ooo.
Thank God she confessed to implicating her friend.nawa oooo.is it by force to travel? Naija is blessed with riches already..
ReplyDeletePeople sha
ReplyDeleteI just hope there is a documentation of all she said.
People sha
ReplyDeleteI just hope there is a documentation of all she said.
God save dem say na for naija dem catch dem.. Like say they enter UAE eh, they for hear ram..
ReplyDeleteThose people are so strict and their laws no dey pity person.
Stella thats the funny thing about law ooo there is no ignorance. She will be charged as an accomplice in crime and if her friend did not change her statement, she will get 5 yrs with an option of 1m fine. She should thank her stars they were not caught in Dubai ooo. Na direct death sentence straight
ReplyDeleteIf it was in Dubai that they were caught, na death.they are very lucky
ReplyDeleteBad friend
ReplyDeleteThank God the Stella vindicated her friend else nah serious gobe e for be for Maureen.
ReplyDeleteMy people pls beware of friends.
ReplyDeleteTheir cup of tea
ReplyDeleteJust settle them and the case will be dropped
She should be wise next time and stop trusting friends
Desperation&greed.
ReplyDeleteEya so sad
ReplyDeleteAm not sure it's a set up,they both knew what's up!!too bad they were busted
ReplyDeleteVery sad...innocent girl
ReplyDeleteToo bad! We alk learn from other people's story. I pray the innocent one goes free.
ReplyDeletena person wey know you go kill you. even oneself can't be trusted 100 percent talk more of trusting another person
ReplyDelete@Sisi eko..... two months visa is not $250. Its between $1000 - $1200. Even at that, not reason enough to do drugs. She should thank her stars she wasn't arrested in dubai o... When you enter wahala for dubai, ghen! ghen !(even if you are just a victim of circumstance) na then you go know say all that glitters is not gold. #experience
ReplyDeleteLol.
DeleteOh really? Didn't know it was that expensive. So why is she still illegal if she can afford to pay 1k USD? She for kukuma arrange her permanent residency na. Imagine what she spends in a year for every 2months.
DeleteThis is serious ,friends friends hmmm
ReplyDeleteStella I know her her name is Ebere ohakwe dropped out frm caritas university enugu married nd dumped her husband with a child in onitsha moved to Abuja for aristo her live in boyfriend who stay in area 1 behind dunamis headquater died by car accident so she upgraded to Dubai since 2012 won't say more Dan dis too many story abt her we were friends till my fiancee said he is disappointed in me for having a frnd like her so I withdraw frm her why can do anything for money
ReplyDeleteI have escaped this situation twice thanks to God
ReplyDeleteSMH I've had my share of bad experiences with some female friends. Very wicked things! This one should teach us all a lesson
ReplyDelete