Court jails trader 5yrs for dealing in hemp
(Nigeria) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced
a 21-year-old petty trader, Okechukwu Anekwe, to five years imprisonment for
dealing in hemp.
Anekwe, who resides at No. 22, Ishaga Road, Balogun Bus
Stop, Lagos, had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of illicit drug.
Justice Okon Abang, who handed down the verdict, said the
court had no option than to sentence Anekwe since he had pleaded guilty to the
charge.
``Based on the plea of the accused and the evidence before
the court, the accused is found guilty as charged and accordingly convicted. He
is hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment which takes effect from the date
of arrest," Abang said.
He also ordered that the bulk of the drug be returned to the
prosecution for destruction.
The judge, however, said the conviction was in accordance
with the provision of Sections of the Criminal Procedure Act, Laws of the
Federation, 2004.
Abang had convicted Anekwe after the review of the facts of
the case as provided by the prosecutor, Mr Orji Kalu, an officer of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Kalu told the court that Anekwe committed the offence on
June 3 at 1.39 p.m., on Railway line at Fagba area of Lagos.
According to him, the accused was caught by a team of NDLEA
officers selling hemp.
The offence contravened Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act,
Laws of the Federation, 2004.
He tendered among other items, the bulk of the hard drug
weighing 1kg, report of test analysis, certificate of drug analysis and confessional
statement.
The items were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
Comments
Post a Comment