Chinese Man Bags 2 Years For Illegal Donkey Genital Export

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a Chinese national, Zheng Di, to two years imprisonment for unlawful storage and attempted illegal export of donkey’s genitals.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa handed down the verdict following Di’s guilty plea.

Di, also known as Andi, was arraigned by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Prosecution counsel, Michael Osong, told the court that Di committed the offence on August 2, 2023 at the SAHCOL Export Warehouse of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Osong named one Famakinwa Samson Funmi and other unnamed Nigerians as Di’s alleged accomplices, adding that they were on the run.

The court heard that Di claimed in a waybill number 0714869 2070 and other declaration documents, that the animal parts he warehoused preparatory to export were cow penises and not donkey genitals which were prohibited.

But his claim was found to be untrue.

The offence contravened sections 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004 and sections 150(1)(b)(i) and 150(2)(c) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

Di pleaded guilty and, through his lawyer, pleaded for mercy.

He prayed the court to consider a sentence of a fine or other non-custodial sentence, saying he was a first-time offender.

Upholding his prayer, Justice Lewis-Allagoa said the plea for leniency and other aggravating factors tilted towards Di.

The judge sentenced him to two years imprisonment but with an option to pay N500,000 in lieu of a jail term.