Indian Hemp Exporter Gets 7 Years Jail-term
A marijuana exporter, Shosan Ayodele, was Tuesday convicted and Sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a Lagos Federal High Court.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa convicted and sentenced the 27 years old Marijuana dealer after he pleaded guilty to a count charge of the offence made against him by the anti-narcotic agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convict, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Augustine Nwagu, was arrested with 13 kilograms of the prohibited drug, on October 28, 2022, during the examination and outward clearance of cargo to Dubai, at SAHCO Export Shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecutor had told the court that the offence committed by the convict, contravened Section 20(1)(a)of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the Act of the law.
The convict, pleaded guilty to the charge, as it was read to him.
With his guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence him in accordance with the section 401 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
But the convict through his lawyer, Mr. Dennis Warri, appealed to court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him.
Warri told the court that his client is a first time convict who did not have record of previous conviction. While adding that his client has become remorseful.
Warri while citing legal authorities, pleaded with the court to give his client an option of fine in lieu of custodian.
Responding, the prosecutor, while admitting that the convict is a first time convict, however, urged the court to consider the quantity of the drug, which he described as of ‘commercial value’.
He also urged the court to grant his agency power to destroy the drug, if there is no appeal against the judgment.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa in his judgment, sent the convict to seven years imprisonment.
The judge however gave the convict an option of N2 million fine in lieu of the jail terms. Whilst also ordered that the seized drug be destroyed if there is no appeal against the judgment after the expiration of the period stipulated by the law.
