By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Four men from the ages of 19 to 27 were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos Nigeria, for unlawfully engaging in the sale of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD.
The convicted drug dealers were arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). They pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, one after the other in open court.
The convicts are Basit Akangbe (19), Peter Okolo (21) , Gift Osanebi (27) and Taiwo Folarin (28).
Specifically, Basit Akangbe was said to have on or about the 5th day of December, 2019, opposite Eco Bank, Kewe Bus-stop in Ejigbo Lagos State within the jurisdiction of “this honourable court, without lawful authority engaged in the sale of 400 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP 30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Peter Okolo was said to have on or about the 28th day of September,2019, at Cardinal Hotel, Balogun market, CMS Lagos State within the jurisdiction of “this honourable court, without lawful authority dealt in 600 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N 30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Gift Osanebi was said to have on or about 15th day of February, 2020, at Ijegun market, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State within the jurisdiction of “this honourable court without lawful authority engaged in the sale of 600 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c)of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N 30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Taiwo Folarin was said to have on or about the 28th day of October,2019 Egon Street Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of “this honourable court without lawful authority dealt in 2.6 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N 30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
After pleading guilty of the offence by the four men, NDLEA counsel applied to review the facts of the cases which was granted by the court.
He tendered various items as evidence to further prove the case against the accused persons and urged the court to admit the items tendered as exhibits.
He also urged the court to convict and sentence the accused accordingly.
Justice Aneke admitted the items tendered as exhibits and after going through the facts of the cases as submitted by the prosecution counsel, he found the four men guilty and sentenced them as follows: Basit Akangbe bagged 6 months with effect from the day of arrest or an option of N20,000 fine; Peter Okolo got 6 months effective from the date of arrest or an option of N20,000 fine ; Gift Osanebi was sentenced to 6 months effective from the date of arrest or an option of N20,000 fine , while Taiwo Folarin bagged 12 months imprisonment with effect from the date of his arrest or an option of N50,000 fine.
