The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Ann, to 25 years’ imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to importing 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu handed down the sentence on Thursday following Ann’s conviction on charges brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Ann had been arraigned before the court in August and pleaded guilty to the offences relating to the importation of the illicit drug.
According to the NDLEA, Ann was arrested in July during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight QR1433, which arrived from Doha at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The agency said she was travelling with her three-year-old son at the time of her arrest.
The NDLEA alleged that Ann initially denied travelling with checked-in luggage, but later acknowledged ownership of two bags after operatives established that the baggage tags corresponded with claim tags attached to her passport.
A search of the luggage subsequently led to the discovery of 5.75kg of heroin, according to the prosecution.
The anti-drug agency also disclosed that Ann’s husband was arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 27, 2026, while allegedly attempting to traffic 3.2kg of illicit drugs to Hong Kong. That allegation against her husband is separate from the case determined by the Nigerian court.
During sentencing proceedings, the prosecution urged the court to take the quantity and estimated value of the heroin into consideration, telling the court that one kilogramme of the substance was valued at about ₦18 million.
At that valuation, the 5.75kg seized from Ann would amount to approximately ₦103.5 million.
Ann, however, pleaded with the court for leniency, telling the judge that she was remorseful and would not engage in such conduct again.
She also told the court that she did not know the bags contained illicit drugs.
Justice Egwuatu, however, noted that Ann had admitted committing the offence in her extrajudicial statement and subsequently entered a guilty plea before the court.
The judge held that the law was settled that a conviction follows a valid guilty plea and consequently convicted her on the charges.
In imposing sentence, Justice Egwuatu declared that “crime does not pay” and observed that the law does not recognise “emotions” in determining criminal responsibility and punishment.
The court sentenced Ann to 15 years’ imprisonment on the first count and 25 years on the second count.
Justice Egwuatu directed that both prison terms should run concurrently, meaning that Ann will serve an effective sentence of 25 years, rather than 40 years.
The court further ordered that the 5.75kg of heroin seized from her should be destroyed if she fails to appeal the judgment within the period prescribed by law.
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