By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday convicted and sentenced a 45 years old Hassan Majid to two years jail term for unlawfully dealing in 1.7kg of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as marijuana, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD.
The trial judge Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke convicted the defendant following his plea of guilty to the two counts charge preferred against him and review of facts of the case by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to the two counts charge on Charge number FHC/L/67c/2024 , dated February 5, 2024 , signed by Adebayo Femi Esq and preferred against the defendant Hassan Majid, he was said to have on or about the 19th day of January, 2024, at No 25 Komolafe Street, Ayetoro Ijanikin Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, without lawful authority, dealt in 1.7 Kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa otherwise known as marijuana.
The defendant was also said to have on the same date and place, within the jurisdiction of the court without lawful authority possessed 1.7 Kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa otherwise known as marijuana.
The Offences committed are contrary to and punishable under Sections 11c and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the two counts. Following his guilty plea, NDLEA prosecutor, Chidinma Onyekachi applied for a review of the facts of the case.
While reviewing the facts, she tendered document such as Certificate of drug test analysis, analysis form, statement of the defendant, result of the forensic test and bulk of the Cannabis Sativa found with the defendant as evidence and urged the court to admit the items as exhibits and convict the defendant as charged.They were admitted as exhibits as prayed.
After listening to the review of facts and seen the exhibits which were not controverted by the defendant, Justice Aneke found him guilty as charged and convicted him on the two counts.
Pleading for mercy on behalf of the convict, defence counsel Oreofe Ogunleye Esq urged the court to tamper justice with mercy, adding that the convict is a first time offender.
“He pleaded guilty to the charge without wasting the precious time of the court, has learnt his lesson”
Defence counsel urged the court to consider a noncustodial sentence for the convict, an option of liberal fine in lieu of imprisonment.
After listening to the allocutus by the defence counsel, the judge said that he has heard the pleadings on behalf of the convict and inclined to tamper justice with mercy, however the court is not unmindful of the harm the act of the convict has done to the society and image of the country.
Consequently, the convict Hassan Majid is sentenced to two years imprisonment with effect from January 19, 2024. In the alternative, the convict is to pay N500,000 option of fine to be paid into the consolidated Federal government account.
In addition to the option of fine, he is to serve 100 hours community service.
“The bulk of the exhibit recovered from the convict should be burnt after 90 days from this day.” the judge ruled.
