Court fines ex-banker N4m for dealing in Skuchies beverage laced with Cannabis Sativa
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Musa Kakaki of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday convicted a female ex- banker Awosika Joy for brewing a beverage laced with Cannabis Sativa.
Justice Kakaki while sentencing the convict ordered her to pay the sum of N4million as fine for the said offence and to further forfeits three vehicles used as instrumentality of the crime.
The forfeited vehicles are: a white Volkswagen Van with Chassis Number WV1ZZZ70Z1HO84067 and marked AKD 510 YJ; a white and green Toyota mini truck with Chassis Number YU600002559 and marked LSC 999 YK, and a yellow Ford Van marked AKD 511 YJ, with Chassis Number IF TNE24W26HA41967.
The trial judge passed the sentence on Awosika a former staff of First Bank of Nigeria Plc following her plea of guilty to two counts charge of dealing in the prohibited substance.
According to the charge, the 45 years old female convict was said to have on or about the 10th day of September, 2025 at Caritas Event Centre, Ibeshe, Ikorodu Area of Lagos State without lawful authority, dealt in 6,096 litres of “Skuchies”, which tested positive to Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin, and LSD, and thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
When the matter came up for trial today Wednesday, the prosecutor Mr Bahari Abdullahi told the court of the pending charge and urged the court to order that the charge be read so that defendant can take her plea.
The charge was then read and Awosika Joy pleaded guilty to same. Following her guilty plea, the facts of the case was reviewed with exhibits tendered and admitted in evidence.
Upon the review of the fact of the case, prosecutor Abdullahi urged the court to convict the defendant as charged. He also urged the court to order forfeiture of the three vehicles used as instrumentality of the crime.
After reviewing the facts of the case as submitted by the prosecutor, Justice Kakaki convicted the defendant as charged.
In the allocutus, the defendant’s counsel , Chief (Mrs ) Lylian Omotunde pleaded for mercy on behalf of the convict.
She said the convict is a single mother with 4 children.She holds a Masters degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife,
Omotunde added that Awosika who is an ex-banker with First Bank of Nigeria Plc went into the illicit business after leaving the banking sector to start her own business and which later collapsed.
She urged the court to grant an option of fine instead of custodian sentence as the convict is sick.
After listening to the allocutus, Justice Kakaki in his sentence, ordered the convict to pay a fine of N4 million. He also ordered her to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria the three vehicles used as instruments of committing the offence .
