Driver Jailed 10 Years For Trafficking 3 Tonnes Of Cannabis
A driver, Segun Odeyemi, was today convicted and sentenced to a total of 10 years imprisonment from trafficking in 3, 842.3 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa, a banned substance similar to Cocaine and heroin.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, who presided over the court passed the sentence on the 38 years old driver, after he pleaded guilty to the two counts charge of unlawful trafficking and dealing in the prohibited substance made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Prior to the driver’s conviction, NDLEA through its prosecutor, N. J. Mamza, told the court that he was arrested with the unlawful consignment weighing 3, 842.3 kilograms, on July 1, 2023, at Eleganza Road, Lekki Area, Lagos, Lagos State.
Mamza told the court that court that the convict used a white truck to concealed and conveyed the said banned substance.
The prosecutor told the court that the illegal acts of the convict, contravened sections 11 (b) and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The convicted driver pleaded guilty to the to counts charge.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the sections of the NDLEA Act he was charged with.
But the convict, through, his lawyer, while pleaded for leniency, said he is a victim of circumstances, as he was misled by the owner of the drug, who did not disclose to him the content that was given to him to transport.
He therefore pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him and considered an option of fine in lieu of custodian sentence.
Justice Aluko in his judgment, after considering all the submissions made by both the prosecutor and convict’s counsel, sentenced the driver to five years imprisonment in each of the counts of the charge.
Justice Aluko however, ordered that the sentence on each count shall run concurrently and the date he was arrested and detained.
The judge also ordered that the prohibited weed be destroyed if there is no appeal against the judgment after the period stipulated by the law.
Charges against the driver reads: “that you Segun Odeyemi Male, 38 years old on or about the 1st day of July, 2023 at Eleganza Road, Lekki Area, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority Trafficked in 3, 842.3 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa, a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an Offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Segun Odeyemi, Male, 38 years old on or about the 1st day of July, 2023 at Eleganza Road, Lekki Area, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority dealt in 3, 842.3 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30 LFN 2004.”
