Court Jails Indian Hemp Smoker 2 Years
A 32 year-old man, Abolaji Adeshina, who claimed to be indian hemp smoker, has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment, by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Lagos Federal High Court.
Justice Aneke sentenced the convict to the jail-term, after he pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful dealing in 97 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana, made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convict, who resides in Akorounfayo Street, Fadayi, Lagos, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge, when he was arraigned before the court, sometimes last year.
He was subsequently admitted to bail with some terms.
However, at the resumed hearing of the charge, the convict, who was not represented by any counsel, signified his intention to change his earlier not guilty plea.
He also told the court that he has no money to hire a lawyer and that he will represent him in the matter.
Based on his submission, the court ordered that the charge be reread to him for the purpose of recording his new plea.
Upon rereading of the charge, the convict pleaded guilty to the one count.
However, when asked if he was the owner of the 97 Kilogrames of cannabis.
The convict said: “am not the owner, though, I smoke ‘igbo’. I was arrested when I went to where the ‘igbo’ is being sold. I only smoke but I don’t sell it.”
When told about his confessional statement, where he stated that he was the owner of the banned substance.
The convict denied being the owner. But said, it was NDLEA’s operatives, that wrote the statement for him.
He thereafter, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy, promising that he will not smoke or sell Indian Hemps again.
At the end of his submission, the prosecutor, M. I. Erondu, urged the court to convict and sentence him based on his new plea and in accordance with 275(2) and 353 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
Justice Aneke after hearing the convict and the prosecutor, and after citing plethora of legal authorities’, sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment.
The judge, however, ordered the convict to pay the sum N1 million fine option, into the consolidated Account of the Federal Government, in lieu of the jail term.
Charge Against The Convict Reads: “That you Abolaji Adeshina, Male, 32 years old on or about the 21st day of March, 2023 at Fadeyi- Akorounfayo, No. 6 Junction Onipanu, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority dealt in 97 Kilogrammes 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 N30 LFN 2004.”
