Kemisola Oye
FOR hawking an alcoholic drink laced with Diazepam (popularly called ‘skushies’) and hard drugs in Lagos, a 29-year-old woman, Adeola Adetutu, together with a 54-year-old man, Godwin Johnson has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment respectively.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos earlier today found them guilty after they both pleaded guilty, to the separate charges brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The two convicts were arraigned on a separate charge filed against them before the court by the NDLEA,
Adetutu was arraigned on one count of unlawful dealing in three litres of an alcoholic drink laced with Diazepam (skushies) a psychotropic substance similar to cocaine and heroin), while the man was arraigned on a two-count charge of hawking and unlawful dealing in heroin and Methamphetamine,
The prosecution counsel, Ms M. J. Mamza, while arraigning the convicts, told the court that the woman was arrested with the hard drug laced-drink on 7th June 2023 at 2, Shemoye Street, Adura Bus Stop, Alagbado Area of Lagos State.
She further told the court that the convicted man was arrested with the prohibited substances on 23 May 2023, at 123, Railway by Fashina Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos State.
According to her, the two convicted persons’ offences contravened the provision of Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Following their guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence them in accordance with the sections of the law they were charged with.
But their counsel, Mr Prosper Oke Ojakovo, in his allucutus, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients.
Ojakovo told the court that his clients are first-time offenders who did not have previous records of conviction and that they have promised not to engage in crime if given a second chance.
However, in his judgment, Justice Oweibo said he has listened to the submission of the prosecutor and the convicts’ lawyer and sentenced each of the convicts to two years imprisonment.
The judge however gave them an option of a fine and ordered the convicted woman to pay the sum of N150,000, while ordering the man to pay the sum of N500,000, in place of the jail term.
Eighteen-Eleven Media