The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Thursday jailed a clearing agent, Felix Olame, for being in unlawful possession of a container load of pangolin scales, elephant ivories, tusks, and bones.
Justice Ringim convicted Olame after he pleaded guilty to a three-count charge preferred against him by the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS).
Olame, according to the prosecutors, David Ereh and Mike Osong, was arrested on January 2021, at Apapa Port, Lagos for being in possession of a 20ft container marked CSLU 2362640, containing 158 sacks of pangolin scales and 57 sacks of elephant ivory, horns and bones.
The prosecutors told the court that the convict conspired and committed the offence with some others, who were said to be at large.
“I have painstakingly looked at the three counts charge and I observed that counts two and three are the same, therefore the defendant cannot be punished on the two counts together to avoid the principle of double jeopardy. Consequently, count two is hereby struck out. The defendant is hereby convicted on counts one and three only. The convict is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment,” Justice Ringim ruled.
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