Man, 32 Jailed 6 Months For Dealing Indian Hemp

A 32-year-old man, Lukman Salao Adeyemo, was Tuesday, convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment, for unlawful dealing in 100 grams of cannabis, popularly called Indian hemp.

Arraigning the convict, the prosecutor, Mr. Ichakpa Oigoga, told Justice A. Onyentenu, that the convict was arrested by the men of Nigeria Navy, on November 16, 2019, by Marine Bridge, Apapa, Lagos, where he was hawking the said banned weed.

Ichakpa told the court that upon the arrest of the convict by the Naval officers and after interrogation, he admitted dealing in the banned weed unlawful, consequently, he was handed over to NDLEA operatives for further investigation and prosecution.

He further informed the court that the laboratory and forensic test conducted on the weed proved positive to be cannabis. Adding that the convict admitted being the owner of the ‘weed’.

He stated upon admitting the ownership of the weed coupled with the result of the test conducted, the convict was brought before the court on the charge.

He told the court that the offence committed by the convict contravened section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. Cap. N30, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The convict, admitted guilty to the charge after it was read to him.

Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Ichakpa, urged the court to pronounce him guilty as charged and sentence him as prescribed by Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act.

However, counsel to the convict, Bolanle Kolawole, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, in sentencing the convict, as he is a first-time offender and that he has vowed not to engage in the act.

After listening to the submission of the prosecutor and defence, Justice Onyeteanu, sentenced the convict to 6 months imprisonment from Tuesday.

The judge also ordered that the seized weed be destroyed by NDLEA if there is no any appeal against the judgment within the period prescribed by the law.