By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos on Monday convicted and sentenced five women for unlawful importation of 6.96 Kilogrames of Ghana loud, a special species of cannabis sativa, popularly called marijuana.
The five women convicted by the court are: Basirat Amope Olarigbibe a.k.a Basirat Feyisara Olaribigbe; Fatima Garuba a.k.a Fatima Ladidi Abogun; Amudalat Adekunle a.k.a Amudalat Ajetunmobi; Oloye Arafat Awele a.k.a Akanni Balikis Oluwatoyin and Ademola Bola a.k.a Tolulope Oluwaseun Osibeluwo, a.k.a. Tolulope Ademola.
The five convicts were sentenced to two years imprisonment, after they all pleaded guilty to a six-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the prohibited substance.
The charge against made was filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In the charge signed by the prosecutor, Barrister Andover G. Yuanyam, while arraigning the convicted women, stated that the five defendants were arrested with the prohibited substance on August 21, 2024, at Seme Boarder, Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos State.
Barrister Yuanyam told the court that the first convict, Basirat Amope Olarigbibe, was arrested with 1.54 kilograms, the second and third convicts, Fatima Garuba and Amudalat Adekunle were arrested with 1.47 kilograms and 1.52 kilograms of the banned drug.
He also told the court that Oloye Arafat Awele and Ademola Bola were arrested with 1.53 Kilograms and 900 grams of the banned substance respectively.
According to the charge, the illegal acts of the five women contravened Sections 14 and 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).
The convicted women pleaded guilty to the offence when the charges were read to them.
Based on their plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the matter, and urged the court to sentence them, based on their plea and exhibits tendered in the matter.
However, their counsel Oke Ojakovo, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients, on the ground that they are first time convicts, who did not waste the time of the court.
He also told the court that the first and second convicts are widows who are solely responsible for the upkeep of their families.
He urged the court to grant his clients non-custodian sentence or a fine option.
After confirming from the prosecutor that the convicted women are first time convicts, Justice Aneke sentenced each of them to two years imprisonment from this day of judgement on each count.
The judge ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently. He however awarded a fine option of N500,000 and 100 hours community service, in lieu of the jail-term.
