Father Of 3 Jailed 20 Years For Dealing In 2.10 Kg of Indian Hemp

Father Of 3 Jailed 20 Years For Dealing In 2.10 Kg of Indian Hemp

A Lagos Federal High Court, today, convicted and sentenced father of three, Olatunji Emmanuel, to 20 years Imprisonment, for dealing in 2.10 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa popularly called Indian Hemp.

Justice Tijjani Garuba Ringim who presided over the court, passed the verdict, after the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim reviewed the facts of the two counts charge of unlawful dealing in the banned weed, preferred against the convict by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The convict  had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge, when he was arraigned before the court sometimes last month and still maintained his stance today, before the review of the charge against him.

In reviewing the facts of the charge, the prosecutor also tendered some exhibits which includes a certificate of test analysis; packing of substance form; a large brown envelope housing sample of the band weed; drug analysis report; convict’s two comfessional statements and bulk of the seized banned weed.

After the review of the fact of the charge, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convict as prescribed by  Section 11(c) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

But the convict’s counsel, Mr. Oke Ojakovo, in his allocutor, urged the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing the Convict, saying that he had become remorseful since he was arrested and promised not to engage in criminal act.

Oke told the court that the convict is a father of three kids, whose parents are late and the only breadwinner of the family. 

In his judgment, Justice Ringim after considering the submissions of both counsel, sentenced the convict to five years on count one and 15 years on count two.

The judge however gave the fine option of N120, 000, in lieu of jail term.

The judge also directed the NDLEA to destroy the seized drug by burning if there is no appeal against the judgment.

Charges Against The Convict Reads: “that you Olatunji Emmanuel, Male, Adult of Bale Street, Lafiajl Beach Side off Eleganza Bus Stop, Lekki-Lagos on or about the 17th of March, 2021 without lawful authority dealt in 2.10 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug, similar to Cocaine, Heroin, LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

“That you Olatunji Emmanuel, Male, Adult of Bale Street, Lafiaji Beach Side off Eleganza Bus Stop, Lekki-Lagos on or about the 17th of March, 2021 without lawful authority knowingly possessed 2.10 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug, similar to Cocaine, Heroin, LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.