Kemisola Oye
FOR dealing in 247 kilograms of cannabis sativa (popularly known as marijuana), a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos earlier today convicted and sentenced two middle age men, Saliu Wasiu and Afolabi Banjo to thirty years imprisonment.
Justice Akintayo Aluko pronounced the sentencing following their guilty plea to a three-count charge filed against them by the legal department of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Saliu and Afolabi were charged with conspiracy and unlawful dealing in the banned weed following their arrest on 5th June 2023, at the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos State.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Lambert Nor, told the court that they illegally used their houses to warehouse the prohibited weeds.
He said their offences contravened the provision of sections 14(b) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act Cap N.30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. And punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.
After pleading guilty to the charges, the prosecutor urged the court to convict them in relation to the sections of the law they were charged with.
But their counsel, Mr Prosper Oke Ojakovo, in his plea of mercy, prayed the court for leniency in sentencing his clients, pointing out that they are first offenders.
He also urged the court to consider the timely guilty plea of the convicts noting that they did not waste the precious time of the court. He added that his clients are remorseful and promised never to go back or be involved in any criminality. He also prayed the court to give his clients the option of a fine in lieu of a custodian sentence.
Justice Aluko, in his judgment after due consideration of counsel submissions and mitigating factors, sentenced each of the convicts to five years imprisonment on each of the counts.
He however gave them a fine of N1. 5 million on each of the counts.
The judge however ordered that both the sentencing shall run concurrently in the event the convicts could not meet up with the option.
Eighteen-Eleven Media