High Court Judge Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba has sentenced Zainab Donzo, a Monrovia-based hairdresser, to 20 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to transporting cocaine without lawful authority.
Donzo faced one count of unlawful possession of drugs, in violation of Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008. Court records indicate that the offence occurred on October 13, 2024, in Jendema Town, Pujehun District, Southern Province, where she was caught transporting 1.9 kilograms of cocaine divided into four compressed parcels.
During the sentencing hearing, Donzo made a personal plea for mercy, while her lawyer, C. Okafor Esq., appealed for leniency on account of her family situation. Donzo is a mother of three, with her youngest child being just three months old at the time of her arrest.
“We respectfully pray that the court considers a reduction of the sentence,” Okafor urged, emphasizing her client’s guilty plea and her role as a caregiver.
Justice Ngegba acknowledged these mitigating factors, including Donzo’s remorse and cooperation with authorities. However, he stressed that the serious societal consequences of drug-related crimes could not be ignored. “The guilty plea by the convict, together with her allocutus and the mitigation plea, have all been fully considered,” the judge said. “But the impact of the offence, particularly on the drug trade, remains severe.”
Following this, the court handed down a 20-year custodial sentence. Additionally, Justice Ngegba ordered that the cocaine evidence, previously presented at the Magistrate’s Court, be turned over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for proper destruction.
Source: Sierra Trends Press
