Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Mr. Pius Nweke of Best Aluminum Company has been sentenced to 10 years Imprisonment by the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State for unlawful possession of firearms.
The court pronounced a 10-year jail term or N30 million fine.
In convicting Nweke on count 1, the judge said although the law, which prescribed 10 years jail term for the offence, as contained in the Firearms Act section 27 is very strict, he had taken into account some provisions in ACJA 2015, which provides the court with discretionary power to impose a fine.
The court maintained that even when the law creating an offence provides that a defendant shall be sentenced without option of fine, the court could use its discretion to impose a fine.
The judge, thereafter, convicted Nweke for 10 years on Count 1 with an option of N30 million payable to the Federal Government, representing N3 million for every prison year prescribed by law.
On Count 2, which bothered on unlawful possession of ammunition, which carries a jail term not exceeding five years, the judge sentenced Nweke to three months imprisonment without option of fine.
The judge further directed that after the duration, Nweke had stayed in jail which should be taken into account, in relation to the three months sentence.
He also ruled that Nweke should, thereafter, present to the court an undertaking backed by a sworn deposition in court that he would be of good behaviour and will maintain peace in his community and neighbouring communities.