Court jails petty trader for selling illicit drugs, orders forfeiture of N1.2m, Highlander Jeep to FG
Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over the weekend convicted a hard drug peddler, Saeed Busari who was found in possession of 7 grams of Cannabis Sativa otherwise called Marijuana at Apapa Port, Lagos
The court also ordered the forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of N1, 215,190.00 and a Highlander Jeep found in the possession of the convict which was one of the instruments of his illicit drug business.
Saeed Busari was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) on or about the 26th day of May 2023 at AP Moller Terminal Gate, Apapa Lagos and charged before the court on one count on charge number FHC/L/323/2023.
During the arrest, Busari was found in possession of 7 grams of Cannabis Sativa.
According to the charge, the defendant was alleged to have committed the offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11c of the NDLEA Act Cap 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as amended.
Also found in possession of the defendant during his arrest is a POS machine, a Highlander Jeep and the sum of N1, 215,190.00.
During the trial, Busari confessed to being a petty trader at the port selling things like biscuits, sweets among others.
Following the review of fact by the prosecutor and allocutus by the defense counsel, Mr G. O Okaka, Justice Faji after convicting Busari, also ordered the forfeiture of the N1, 215,190 and the Highlander Jeep found on him.
Justice Faji held that the money and car found in possession of Busari are proceeds of crime.
The judge added that apart from carrying on his trading at the port illegally as he has no permit to do so, the convict used the petty trading as a cover to sell hard drugs