Tailor Jailed 12 Months For Selling Indian Hemp

A 30 year-old tailor, Akeem Alao, has been convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, by a Federal High Court, Lagos, for smoking and selling Indian hemp.

Alao was convicted and given the jail terms by Justice Ayotunde Faji, after pleading guilty to a count charge of unlawful dealing in the banned weed by the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Following to his guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Jerry Aernan urged the court to convict and sentence him as prescribed by section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act. Cap N30, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.

However, the convict’s lawyer, Mrs. Helen Ibeji, pleaded with the court to tamper mercy in sentencing her client on the ground that he is a time offender.

She also told the court that her client used to be a tailor but now works as labourer.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Faji, while reading out parts of the convict’s statement said: the convict stated that he has being smoking and selling Indian hemp 15 years ago”.

Sentencing the convict, the said: “he is a first time offender caught selling for commercial venture. The convict is hereby sentence to 12 months imprisonment.

“The jail term shall commence from the date of his arrest”.

NDLEA in a charge marked FHC/L/22c/19, stated that the convict had on or about November 26, 2018, at Ikota Ajah, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court, without lawful authority engaged in selling of 250 grams of Cannabis (Indian Hemp), a narcotic similyto cocaine, heroine, and LSD.

The offence according to the anti-

narcotic agency, is contrary and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency, Laws of the Federation, 2004.