Ghana jails Nigerian for stuffing cocaine in fufu

A Fast Track High Court in Ghana has sentenced a Nigerian trader, Isaac Idowu Shobola to 10 years imprisonment for stuffing three parcels of cocaine in Neat “fufu”

The parcels of cocaine which were stuffed in neat fufu powder were to be mailed to the United Kingdom a report in Ghana Vibes online said.

Shobola pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit crime, attempted exportation of narcotic drugs and unlawful possession of narcotic drugs without authority.
The court presided over by Mr Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh found him guilty on the charge of possession of narcotic drugs without authority.



It however acquitted and discharged him on the two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and attempted exportation.

An accomplice, Mohammed Abubakari aka Malik Sinare, who was also being held on two counts for conspiracy to commit crime and attempted exportation of narcotic drugs was however acquitted and discharged by the court.

Handing down the sentence, the trial judge cautioned Shobola to be careful in his dealings.
In the case of Abubakari, his lawyer had argued that the charges preferred against his client could not hold as they were not established in law.

Prosecution’s case was that on August 1, 2011, DHL Courier Service intercepted a mail parcel said to contain three packets of neat “fufu” powder from the offices of Pills and Tabs, one of their local agencies at Legon, meant to be dispatched to Kwame Kojo in London.

The parcels also had the sender’s name as Malik Sinare and a phone number.
Prosecution said on examination of the one of the packets of neat fufu, it was found to be stuffed with cocaine in a transparent polythene material.

On August 4, 2011 Abubakari rang the Pills and Tabs offices complaining of non delivery of his parcels.
On August 11, 2011, prosecution said following a tip off, one Bashiru Adio was arrested at the offices of Pill and Tabs when he was sent by Abubakari to redeem the parcel.

According to prosecution, Adio denied knowledge of the drugs concealed in the parcels and led the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) Investigators to arrest Abubakari at Accra Newtown.
When Abubakari was searched a copy of the DHL Way Bill issued in respect of the parcels was found in his pocket.

Abubakari admitted sending Adio to claim the parcel on his behalf. Abubakari also named Shobola and when he (Shobola) was arrested similar substances were found on him.
Shobola admitted ownership of the three parcels and explained that it was one Nuru, who could not be located, who gave them to him to deliver for a fee of GH¢300. GNA