Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Lagos Federal High Court, today convicted and sentenced a man, Ojerinde Oluwafemi, who snuggled into the country, 4.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica, a prohibited substance, to eight years imprisonment.
Justice Aluko gave the verdict after the man pleaded to a two count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the banned drug by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The judge after listening to the allucutor made by the convict’s lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, however ordered the convict to pay a sum of N600, 000, in lieu of the jail term.
The prosecutor, Kunle Adebajo, while arraigning the convict, told the court that he was arrested on July 15, 2024, at the Tin-Can port, Apapa Lagos.
The prosecutor told the court that the convict had conspired with one Kenneth Agwuncha a.k.a. Gabriel, now at large.
He also told the court that the convict and his co-conspirator, concealed the banned drug in a RAV4 2009 with Chassis Number 2T3BF4ADVOAW029628.
He imformed the court that the illegal acts of the convict, contravened sections 11(a) and 14(b) of the National Drug Law E forcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The prosecutor, upon the convict’s conviction and sentence, urged the court, to forfeit the RAV4, which was the instrument used in smuggling the drug to the federal government of Nigeria.
He told the court that the forfeiture application is premises on section 27(1)(c) of NDLEA Act.
The prosecutor’s request was not countered by the lawyer to the convict. Consequently, Justice Aluko ordered that the vehicle, RAV4 2009 with Chassis Number 2T3BF4ADVOAW029628, be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.
Charges against the convict reads: “that you OJERINDE OLUWAFEMI, Male, Adult, and one KENNETH AGWUNCHA A.K.A GABRIEL, Male, Adult, (Now at large) on or about the 15th day of July, 2024, at the Complex off-loading bay, Tincan Island Port, Lagos state, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, without lawful authority, imported 4.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD by concealing same inside one RAV4 2009 with Chassis Number 2T3BF4ADVOAW029628 and thereby committed an offence provided for and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law E forcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004
That you Ojerinde Oluwafemi, Male, Adult, and one Kenneth Agwuncha a.k.a Gabriel, Male, Adult, (Now at large) on or about the 15th day of July, 2024 at the Complex off loading bay, Tincan Island Port, Lagos state, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to import 4.5 Kilograms of Cannabis Indica, a narcotic drug, similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD by concealing same inside one RAV4 2009 with Chasis Number 213814DVOAWO029628 and thereby committed an Offence provided for and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.“
