Court Jails 2 Men For Trafficking In 11.3kg Of Marijuana
Two men, Kolawole Azeez, 54, and Ajadi Olarenwaju Tajudeen, 63, were today convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment, for unlawful dealing in prohibited drugs, by a Federal High Court, Lagos.
Both Kolawole and Ajadi, who are residents of 47, Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State, were given the jail-term by Justice Daniel Osiagor, after they both pleaded guilty to a four count-charge made against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
NDLEA through it’s prosecutor, Marian I. Erondu, had arraigned the two convicts before Justice Osiagor on charges of conspiracy, storage of 11.3 kilograms of cannabis Sativa popularly called marijuana, 33 grams of Molly and unlawful dealing in the same drug.
Erondu had told the court that the convicts’ actions contravened sections 14(b); 12 and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT Cap N.30 Laws of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 2004.
The convicts have pleaded guilty to the charges when it was read to them.
Following their guilty plea to the charges, the prosecutor pleaded with the court to allow her to review the facts of the charge, as well, tendered all exhibits in the charge.
Upon admitting the exhibits, which were marked as Exhibits as A to H, the prosecutor urged the court to convict the deft in accordance with sections 274(2) & 356(2) of the ACJA 2015.
However, lawyer to the convicts, Oke Ojakovo, in his allucutor, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients.
Ojakovo also told the court that the first convict, Kolawole, is a family man with 4 children and the second convict, Ajadi, is a family man with 2 children. He begged the court give them non-custodian sentence oR time option of fine.
Justice Osiagor after confirming from the prosecutor that the convicts are first time offenders, sentenced them to seven years imprisonment in each of the count.
Justice Osiagor while ordered that the jail-term should run concurrently, also ordered them to pay a fine option of N500, 000. 00, on each of the count, adding that the fine option should also run concurrently.
Charges against the Convicts Read: “That you, Kolawole Azeez, Adult, Male, 54 years old and Ajadi Olarenwaju Tajudeen, Adult, Male 63 years old on or about the 24th day of November, 2024 at No. 47 Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority Conspired to deal in 11.3 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa and 35 grams of Molly narcotic drugs similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby Committed an offence as provided for and punishable pes section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT Cap N.30 Laws of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, Ajadi Olarenwaju Tajudeen, Adult, Male, 63 years old on or about the 24th day of November, 2024 at No. 47 Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority used your premises for the purpose of storing 11.3 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa a narcotic drugs similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and 35 grams of Molly, a psychotropic substance and thereby Committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 12 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N.30 Laws of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, Kolawole Azeez, Adult, Male, 54 years old on or about the 24th day of November, 2024 at No. 47, Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority dealt in 11.3 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin anq LSD and thereby Committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT Cap N.30 Laws of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, Kolawole Azeez, Adult, Male, 54 years old on or about the 24th day of November, 2024 at No. 47 Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority dealt in 35 grams Molly, a Narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby Committed an offence as provided for and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 2004.”
