38-yrs-old Zainab Moorof bags jail term over possession of 6.4 g Cocaine, other prohibited drugs
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A 38 years old woman Zainab Moorof was on Tuesday convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for possessing 2.6 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa and 6.4 grams of Cocaine without lawful authority.
Zainab Moorof was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA ) before Justice Ambrose Lewis Allagoa on two-counts charge of unlawful possession of the prohibited drugs which are similar to Heroin and LSD.
When the case was called , Ifeoma M . Erondu Esq. announced appearance for the prosecution while M. Nyiev Esq. announced appearance for the defence.
The prosecutor informed the court that the case is for arraignment of the defendant on a two counts charge and applied that the charge be read to Zainab Moorof for her to take plea.
According to the charge marked FHC/ L/87c/25 filed by NDLEA prosecutor Ifeoma Erondu, the convicted woman was said to have on or about January 16, 2025 at Owode Lamgbasa, Ajah, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority possessed 2.6 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa and 6.4 grammes of Cocaine, narcotic drugs similar to Heroin and LSD.
The offence is contrary to Section 20(1)(c) and punishable under Section 20(2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
After listening to the charge preferred against her, Zainab Moorof pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of her plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and tendered some documents including drug analysis form, the forensic results of the test carried out, the bulk of the prohibited drugs recovered from the defendant and other items as evidence before the court. The court adopted them as exhibits.
The prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant in view of her guilty plea, evidence tendered before the court and in accordance with the section of the law as charged.
Having heard the submission of the prosecutor, Justice Allagoa convicted Zainab Moorof as charged.
In her plea for mercy,(allocutus), defence counsel Nyiev while pleading for the defendant, urged the court to tamper justice with mercy. She added that the convict is a first time offender, very remorseful and pleaded guilty at first instance without wasting the time of the court.
She begged the judge to consider non custodial sentence for the convict, a community service or an option of fine.
The judge asked the prosecutor if she has knowledge of any previous criminal record of the convict. She answered “none my lord”
In sentencing the convict, Justice Allagoa said “You Zainab Moorof is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment with effect from this day. or pay an option of One Million Naira fine to the Federal Government consolidated account. In addition, you forfeit the sum of N580,650.00, being proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Counts 1 and 2 read: “That you Zainab Moorof, female, 38 years old, on or about the 16th day of January, 2025 at Owode Lamgbasa Ajah, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without lawful authority possessed 2.6 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and also possessed 6.4 grammes of Cocaine, a narcotic drug similar to Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20 (1)(c) and punishable under Section 20(2)(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
