Mother Of 4 Jailed 12 Months For Trafficking Marijuana
Justice Ayotunde Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday convicted and sentenced a mother of four, Ima Okoroji, to 12 months imprisonment for unlawful dealing in cannabis sativa, popularly called marijuana.
Justice Faji handed down the verdict after Okoroji pleaded guilty to a one count charge of drug trafficking brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The prosecutor, Jerry Aernan, had told the judge during trial that the 44 year old convict was arrested on May 25, 2017, at Ijegun area of Lagos State, with 200 gramms of the said banned weed.
Aernan had also maintained at the court that the offence committed by the convict is contrary to, and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. Cap N30, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the convict was first arraigned, she pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However, mid-way into the trial, the convict changed her plea, and pleaded guilty to the charge.
While pleading for mercy, the convict told the court that the banned weeds were given to her by her husband, and that she has been in the business of selling it for a long time.
She pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as she has promised not to deal in the illicit business again.
The prosecutor, Aernan, had told the court that the convict was a first time offender who did not have any previous criminal record.
In sentencing the convict, Justice Faji said: “considering the plea of guilty and her long stay in the business, I am of the view that 12 months will be appropriate for her.
“So, I hereby sentence her to 12 months imprisonment starting from the day of her arrest.”
