Africa-Press – Botswana. As a case involving a group of six Mexican nationals linked to drug trafficking charges in Mozambique closed today for illegal entry into Botswana, the State has revealed that it is now intensifying its case against Nigerian, Uchema Njoku (53).
Njoku is facing a charge of aiding and abetting a crime. He is alleged to have assisted six Mexicans in illegally entering the country.
The six Mexican nationals, namely, Gumecindo Enrique, 61, Jose Pena, 48, Fansico Alejandro, 33, Jose Corrales, 39, Carlos Aguilar, 32, and David Teran, 26, have been sentenced to 12 months in prison and were fined P5 000. Should they fail to pay, they will serve a five-year term.
In light of this week’s developments at Extension II Magistrate Court, the State revealed that it is strengthening its case against Njoku, who is yet to be tried.
“We are yet to serve the accused with some witness statements as it had been said before,” State Prosecutor Keletso Kgathi said.
The State said it would likely substitute the charge sheet for the Nigerian as it is becoming apparent to them through their investigations that this was not a ‘one-man job’ as more heads will roll.
“There is a likelihood that more people will be charged in this matter, and one such person would be the Immigration agent (Bulawa) whose names have revealed in court,” she said.
It was revealed by Aguilar, a Mexican national, that they tried to get their passports stamped with the help of Bulawa, pleading ignorance that they did not know he was doing something illegal.
“When we went to Immigration to get our passports stamped, we thought that was the correct process, and we were not aware that Bulawa did something unlawful with the passports to get us into the country,” he said.
In light of this, the State said it would bring Bulawa and possibly one more person before the court alongside the Nigerian.
After delivering sentence on the Mexicans, the Chief Magistrate, Kamogelo Mmesi, set the matter for March 4 for a status update with regard to the Nigerian and possibly more suspects. The case continues.
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