A Nigerian national who had been residing in Sicily has received a prison sentence of four and a half years after confessing to the importation of 600 grams of cannabis into Malta nearly a decade ago.

This is the latest case of a “drug mule” at the bottom of the organised crime chain having the Maltese court come down hard on him, with little remorse or empathy shown. 

Eshiemokhai Yakubu Okhiulu, aged 38, was also fined €5,000, and the court ruled for the forfeiture of his personal property.

He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the possession of drugs intended for purposes other than personal use, and subsequently faced trial for these offences.

In December 2014, Okhiulu was apprehended by the police upon his arrival in Malta via catamaran. The cannabis was discovered in a yellow plastic bag within his suitcase.

The court learned that the imported drugs had an estimated street value of €15,000, with purity levels determined at 7.5%.

Okhiulu had informed the police that his visit to Malta was intended as a surprise for his pregnant partner.

While acknowledging the charges against him, Okhiulu took the witness stand and shared a different perspective. He stated that when he was carrying the package, he was unaware of its contents being drugs.

Okhiulu explained that his primary purpose in coming to Malta was to work as a builder. His girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time, had arrived in Malta before him, and he intended to surprise her. It’s worth noting that Okhiulu had never set foot in Malta prior to this.

According to Okhiulu, a friend named Toto had entrusted him with a package and informed him that someone would be waiting for him at the seaport, offering him employment in exchange for the package.

Upon being stopped by the police, Okhiulu claimed that he requested a brief 20 minutes to locate the individual waiting for him outside. Regrettably, the authorities did not grant his request and took him to a police station, where officers urged him to provide names of two “black” individuals involved in drug activities – a request he could not fulfil.

He further revealed that following his arrest nine years ago, he spent a total of 27 months in custody before being granted bail.

Since then, he diligently built a life for himself, establishing two businesses, including a barbershop and a grocery store. Okhiulu also emphasised his compliance with tax regulations.

In a plea to Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrara, he stated: “Please, I’m begging… On that day, I accepted that bag, hoping for an opportunity… I don’t deny being in possession of the bag, but I did not come here to sell.”

Presiding over the case, Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera emphasised that despite the legalisation of cannabis in Malta, drug trafficking remains a criminal offence.

Though it was a non-violent crime that happened nearly a decade ago, he was not shown mercy, and sent into prison for another four and a half years.

Maltese judges have a tendency to go easy on violent crimes, whereas they throw the book at non-violent crimes – especially involving drugs and foreigners. 

A look at some recent violent court cases reveals the strange, endemic pattern.

A Maltese man found guilty of beating his wife was let back onto the streets with a mere fine; a Maltese driver who ran over a woman at 110 km/hr, injuring her permanently, was given a suspended sentence; indeed, even the architects involved in the death of Miriam Pace were given a suspended sentence.

Compare that to Okhiulu, who already spent 27 months in jail before being granted bail or even being found guilty of anything  – and now, he must serve another four and a half years inside Malta’s Kordin prison.