Court to sentence convicted returnee June 21 for importing illicit drug
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos will on June 21 sentence a returnee, one Stanley Obinna Nwora who pleaded guilty on charges bothering on unlawful importation and possession of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp.)
Stanley pleaded guilty when he was arraigned before Justice Akintayo Aluko by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a two-count charge.
According to the prosecutor, Mr. Umar Hussain, Stanley (defendant) who resides at No 6, Moses Ebitu SPG Road, Ologolo, Lekki, Lagos was arrested with 543 grammes of the banned weed, by the Special Enforcement Team (SET) on May 17, 2023.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant illegal acts contravened Sections 11(a) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As amended).
After hearing the charge preferred against him, the defendant admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges.
In view of his plea of ‘guilty’, the prosecutor asked the court for a short date to come back for review of the facts of the charge.
He told the court that his request for short date was hinged on the unavailability of the exhibits keeper, whom he said was outside the jurisdiction.
Consequent upon the agreement of the prosecutor and defendant’s counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, Justice Aluko ordered that the defendant be remanded with the NDLEA, and adjourned the matter till June 21, for review of facts and sentence.
The charge against defendant reads:
“That you Stanley Obinna Nwora, Male, Adult, Nigerian citizen of Number 6, Moses Ebitu, SPG Road Ologolo, Lekki, Lagos, on or about 17th day of May, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court; without lawful Authority imported 543 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a substance similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As amended).
“That you Stanley Obinna Nwora, Male, Adult, Nigerian citizen of Number 6, Moses Ebitu, SPG Road Ologolo, Lekki, Lagos, on or about 17th day of May, 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful authority possessed 543 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a substance similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As amended).”
