Court Jails Indian Hemp Seller 6 Months
An Indian Hemp seller, Abiodun Ojulate, has been convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment, by a Federal High Court, Lagos.
The convict was handed down the jail term by Justice Sule Hassan, after he pleaded guilty to a count charge of unlawful dealing in 130 grams of cannabis sativa, popularly called Indian hemp or marijuana, leveled against him by the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Arraigning the convict before the court, NDLEA lawyer, Aliyu Abubakar, told the court that the convict, a resident of 3, Ideson Compound, Iberekodo. Badagry, was arrested on October 12, 2018, at Church Elijah Bus Stop, where he was selling the banned weed by the operatives of his agency.
Abubakar further told the court that upon the convict’s arrest, he admitted being the owner of the banned weed. Adding that the convict in his confessional statements said he has been selling it for longer time.
The prosecutor told the court that based on the convict confessional statements and exhibits recovered from him, he was charged to court.
He told the court that the offence committed by the convict contravened section 11(a) of the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency act Cap. N40 Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Upon the reading of the charge, the convict pleaded guilty. The presiding judge, Justice Hassan thereby pronounced him guilty as charge based on his plea and exhibits tendered by the prosecutor.
His lawyer, Oke Ojakovo, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with the mercy in sentencing his Client as he is a first term offender and for not wasting the precious time of the court.
Ojakovo also told the court that the convict has become remorseful and that he had learnt his lesson during his detention period and promised not to go back to any crime if given second chance.
He therefore pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him and to consider the period he had spent in detention
Sentencing the convict, Justice Hassan said: “I have listened to the plea for mercy made by the convict’s lawyer and the confirmation that the convict is a first time offender and for not wasting the precious time of the court.
“The convict is hereby sentence to six months imprisonment. The sentence term will commence from the day of his arrest and the time spent in detention is to remove from the term”.
Charge against the convict reads: ” that you Abiodun Ojulate, male, adult, Nigerian, of No. 3 Ideson compound Ibereko on or about the 12th day of October, 2018, at Church Elija bus stop Ibereko Badagry, Lagos within the jurisdiction of thus honourable court, without lawful authority dealt in 130 grammes of marijuana (otherwise known as cannabis sativa) a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, Heroine, LSD by which act you committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11c of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004″.
