By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The vacation judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday (today )sentenced a driver Segun Odeyemi, to a total of 10 years imprisonment for trafficking in 3, 842.3 Kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a prohibited substance similar to Cocaine and Heroin.
Justice Aluko passed the sentence on the 38 years old driver, after he pleaded guilty to the two counts charge of unlawful trafficking and dealing in the prohibited substance preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Prior to the driver’s conviction and sentence, NDLEA through its prosecutor, N. J. Mamza, told the court that the defendant was arrested with the unlawful consignment weighing 3, 842.3 kilograms, on July 1, 2023, at Eleganza Road, Lekki Area, Lagos.
Mamza told the court that the convict concealed and conveyed the said banned substance in a white truck
According to the charge filed by the prosecutor, the illegal acts of the convict, contravened Sections 11 (b) and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The convicted driver pleaded guilty to the two counts charge.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the sections of the NDLEA Act which he was charged with.
But the convict’s, counsel, while pleading for leniency, said the convict is a victim of circumstances, as he was misled by the owner of the drug, who did not disclose to him the content that was given to him to transport.
He therefore pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him and urged the court to consider an option of fine in lieu of custodian sentence.
After considering all the submissions made by both the prosecutor and convict’s counsel, Justice Aluko sentenced the driver to five years imprisonment in each of the counts of the charge.
Justice Aluko however, ordered that the sentence on each count shall run concurrently and effective from the date he was arrested and detained.
The judge also ordered that the prohibited weed be destroyed if there is no appeal against the judgment after the period stipulated by the law.
Charges against the driver read: “That you Segun Odeyemi Male, 38 years old, on or about the 1st day of July, 2023 at Eleganza Road, Lekki Area, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority Trafficked in 3, 842.3 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa, a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an Offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you Segun Odeyemi, Male, 38 years old on or about the 1st day of July, 2023 at Eleganza Road, Lekki Area, Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority dealt in 3, 842.3 Kilogrames of Cannabis Sativa a drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30 LFN 2004.”
