Drug Dealer, Driver Jailed 15years For Trafficking In 3000kg Of Cannabis
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a drug baron and a driver, to a total of 15 years imprisonment for trafficking in 2.986.2 Kilogrames of cannabis Sativa popularly called marijuana.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa convicted and sentenced the two men, after they pleaded guilty to different charges preferred against them by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA.
While the drug dealer was arraigned before the court on a count charge of unlawful dealing in 2,760 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa. He driver was arraigned on a two count-charge of unlawful dealing in 57.6. Kilograms and 168. 6 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa respectively.
The prosecutor, Juliana Negedu, while arraigning the convicted men, told the court that the drug dealer, Gbenga Abiodun was arrested with 2,760 Kilograms of the prohibited weed, on October 25, 2024, at Igunnuko Shrine, Alpha Beach, Lekki, Lagos, Lagos State,
Negedu also told the court that the second convict, Bashir, was arrested on September 18 and 19, 2024, at Ashipa and Aketegbo, Seme Border, in badagry West of Lagos State.
The prosecutor had risen the court that the illegal acts of the convicts, contravened sections 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
With the guilty plea of the convicts, the prosecutor tendered the exhibits in the charge, as well urged the court to convict the two men and sentence them accordingly.
But lawyer to the convicted men, Rachael M. Nyiew, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing her clients.
She told the court that the second convict, is a driver, who was arrested there the drug was discovered.
She told the court that they are first time convicts, who did not was the time of the court to plea guilty to the charges against them. She particularly urged the court to give them non-custodian sentence.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after listening to the convicts’ counsel allucutor and confirmed that the convicts are first time offenders, sentences them to five years imprisonment on each of the counts.
The judge however ordered the convicts to pay the sum of N5 million as fine option in lieu of the jail-term.
Charges against the convicts read: “That you, Gbenga Abiodun, Male, Adult, 51 years old on or about the 25th day of October, 2024 at Igunnuko Shrine, Alpha Beach, Lekki, Lagos, Lagos, State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without lawful authority dealt in 2,760 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence, provided for and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Bashir Mohammed, Male, 58 years on or about the 19th day of September, 2024 at Ashipa, Seme Border, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable without lawful authority dealt in 57.6. 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, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Bashir Mohammed, Male, 58 years on or about the 18th day of September, 2024 at Aketegbo, Seme Border, Badagry West, Badagry, Lagos, State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable without lawful authority dealt in 168.6 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 N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
