By Ibrahim Sesay
A High Court in Freetown has sentenced Nigerian national Iwuchukwu Ebere Christian to thirty (30) years imprisonment after he was found guilty of unlawful possession of 900 grams of cocaine, in violation of Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
The conviction and sentence were delivered by Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba on Friday, 5th December 2025, at the Main Law Courts Building on Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown. Iwuchukwu Ebere Christian had earlier pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial.
According to the State, the accused was arrested on 25th June 2025 at Lungi, in Sierra Leone’s North-West Region, with 900 grams of cocaine in his possession without lawful authority.
During the trial, Prosecution Witness Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph Stevens, a specialist in drug and chemical analysis attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), testified that he received a laboratory request from Detective Inspector Steven Alpha Turay to examine 46 pellets of a white powdered substance seized from the accused.
Detective Inspector Steven Alpha Turay told the court that after conducting laboratory tests on 30th June 2025, the substance was confirmed to be cocaine weighing 900 grams.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the accused chose to rely solely on his statement to the police and elected not to call further evidence.
Justice Mark Ngegba noted that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the substance found in the defendant’s possession was cocaine. He stated that the defendant admitted possessing the 46 pellets but provided no lawful justification for holding the prohibited drug.
Having reviewed the totality of the evidence, the judge ruled that the prosecution met its burden of proof and the defendant was guilty as charged.
In his allocutus, the convict appealed for mercy and explained that the drugs were intended for onward transit to Ecuador. He revealed that he had transported the pellets by road from Nigeria to Sierra Leone and that he was to be paid US$5,000 if the delivery was successful.
Defence counsel C. I. Williams urged the court to consider the convict’s status as a foreign national, father and principal caregiver.
However, State Counsel A. Jalloh argued that the seriousness of the offence and its potential impact on Sierra Leone’s international reputation warranted a stringent sentence.
In delivering his ruling, Justice Mark Ngegba declared: “I hold that the prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to warrant a guilty verdict against the defendant. Hence, the defendant is therefore found guilty as charged and is sentenced to thirty (30) years imprisonment.”
The judgment reinforces the judiciary’s strong stance against drug trafficking and its commitment to upholding the country’s drug control laws.
