Man Jailed, Forfeits N1.2m, Jeep, For Illegal Dealing In 7gm of Drug

A drug peddler, Saheed Busari, who was arrested with 7 grams of Cannabis Sativa, also called marijuana, has been convicted and sentenced to 12 months  imprisonment, by a Lagos Federal High Court.

Justice Ayokunle Faji, who presided over the Court, on Friday, also ordered that the sum of N1, 215,190 million and a Highlander Jeep, belonging to the convict, be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria, for being proceeds illicit act.

The convict, according the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was arrested on May 26, 2023, at AP Moller Terminal Gate, Apapa Lagos, with 7 grams of the banned substance.
Also found in possession of the defendant during his arrest was a POS machine, a Highlander Jeep and the sum of N1, 215,190 million

Upon his arrest, he was charged before the court on one count in charge marked FHC/L/323/2023, on unlawful dealing in prohibited drug.

The offence, according to the NDLEA, the contravened  section under section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act Cap 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as amended.

He pleaded guilty to the charge, upon his arraignment. But in his allucutor, he told the court that he is a petty trader, selling thing like biscuits, sweets among others to the Port workers.

Following his plea of guilty, the prosecutor, Mr. Paul Awogbuyi, reviewed the facts of the charge, and urged the court to convict and sentence according to the section of the NDLEA Act, that he was charged with.

The convict’s counsel, Mr. Mr G. O. Okaka, in addition to the convict’s allocutus, pleaded with the court, to be lenient with his client, for pleaded guilty to the charge without wasting the court’s precious time, and that he was a first time convict.

The convict, when asked by the court to justify his claim that he did not buy the car with proceeds of illicit drug, he was unable to convince the court on the question posed to him.

Consequently, Justice Faji in his judgment, after listening to the parties, ruled that; “the convict, that apart from carrying on his trading at the port illegally, as he has no permit to do so, he uses the petty trading as a cover to sell hard drugs.”

Justice Faji held that the money and car found in possession of the convcit are proceeds of crime.

The court therefore sentenced him to a year imprisonment. And also ordered the forfeiture of the N1, 215,190 million and the Highlander Jeep found on the convict.

editor

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