Illegal Export Of Donkey Genitals: China Citizen Jailed For Two Years

A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, on Friday, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment, a Chinese national, Zheng Di, for conspiracy, unlawful storage and illegal export of donkey genitals.

The judge arrived at the decision after the convicted Chinese pleaded guilty to the charge made against him by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

It would be recalled that the Chinese citizen was arraigned over the offence, wherein the prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Osong, informed the judge that the convicted Chinese committed the illegal act on August 2, 2023, at the SAHCOL Export Warehouse of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The prosecutor equally hinted to the court that the convict committed the offence with a Nigerian named Famakinwa Samson Funmi and some others, who are now at large.

Osong argued that the convicted Chinese, when arrested, falsely claimed in Waybill number 0714869 2070 and other declaration documents, that what he warehoused were cow penis which he intended to export and not donkey genitals which were prohibited.

The prosecutor informed Justice Lewis-Allagoa that the offence contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Sections 150(1)(b) and 150(2)(c) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and punishable under Section 150(1)(b)(i) of the same Act. 

As a result of his guilty plea, the prosecutor prayed to the judge to convict and sentence the convicted Zheng Di accordingly.

However, the defence lawyer begged the court for mercy, insisting that his client was a first-time offender.

The lawyer informed the judge that his client had promised not to be involved in any form of crime if provided another opportunity.

He pleaded with the court to consider a non-custodial sentence or fine option in lieu of the custodial sentence.

Delivering judgment, Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment.

The judge also gave the convict the option to pay a fine in the sum of N500,000.00 in lieu of the jail term.

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