A driver, Michael Okah, has been convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment, for trafficking and transporting 40 Kilogrames of cannabis Sativa popularly called marijuana, by a Lagos Federal High Court.
The 43 years old driver, was convicted and given the jail-term, today, by Justice Akintayo Aluko, after he pleaded guilty to the two counts charge made against him, by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA).
The judge, however ordered the convicted driver to pay the sum of N500, 000, 00, in lieu of the jail-term.
The convict was arraigned before the court by the NDLEA through its prosecutor, Juliana Negedu last Tuesday, on the offences.
During his arraignment, the prosecutor told the court that he was arrested on July 16, 2024, along Mile 2-Oshodi expressway, Lagos, with the prohibited weed.
The prosecutor told the court that the illegal acts of the convicted driver contravened sections 20(1)(a) and 11(c) of the National Drug Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the convict guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to adjourn the matter till today, for review of facts of the case.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the prosecutor, Miriam I. Erondu, who took over from Julianna Negedu, reviewed the facts of the case.
In reviewing the facts of the charge, the prosecutor called one of the agency’s exhibit keepers Mr. Benjamin Nkaetah, who tendered all the exhibits in the matter
Upon rendering and admitting of the prosecutor, Miriam, urged the court to convict and sentence the driver based on his guilty plee, and exhibits tendered and in accordance to sections 274(2) and 356(2) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
But the lawyer to the convicted driver, G. U. Okaka, merciful with his client, on the ground that he was a first time convict, who did not waste the time of the court.
He also prayed the court to consider a non-custodian sentence or a fine option in lieu of the jail-term.
Justice Aluko in his judgment after considering aggravating factors which were in favour of the convicted driver, sentenced him to two years imprisonment in each of the counts.
The judge however ordered him to pay the sum of N500, 000, as fine option in lieu of the sentencing.
Charges Against The Convicted Driver Reads: “That you Michael Okah and others now at large Adult, Male, of 43 years old, or about the 16th day of July, 2024 along Mile 2 Oshodi Apapa Express Way, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful authority engaged in the transportation of 40 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 20(1)(a) of the National Drug Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004
“That you Michael Okah and others now at large, Adult, Male of 43 years old, on or about the 16th day of July, 2024 along Mile 2 Oshodi Apapa Express Way, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without law ful in 40 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence as provided for by Section 11(c) of the National Drug Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.”
