Man Bags Life Sentence For Dealing In Heroine

Man Bags Life Sentence For Dealing In Heroine

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a 29 year-old man to life imprisonment for dealing in 30.5 grams of heroine.

The judge handed down the verdict after the convict pleaded not guilty to one count charge of unlawful dealing in narcotics brought against him by National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on April 26, 2014.

According to the NDLEA, Elemoro, was arrested with the banned substance by the intelligent team of the agency on April 24, 2014, at Palm Church street, Lagos Island, Lagos.

The one count charge reads: "that you Abiodun Elemoro, on April 24, 2014, at Palm Church Street, Lagos Island, without lawful authority, dealt in 30.5 grams of heroine, a narcotic drug, contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of NDLEA Act, Cap N30, laws of he federation of Nigeria, 2004."

In his confessional statement to the NDLEA, the convict admitted dealing in the banned substance, and told the court that he made between N3,000 to N5,000 daily.

While reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecution urged the court to pronounced the convict guilty as charged.

The convict in his allocutus, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. He said he is an orphan, and that his only child is just nine months old.

However, the judge was not impressed with his plead as she sentenced the convict to life imprisonment with hard labour. 

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia also directed the NDLEA to destroyed the substance if the convict fails to appeal against the judgment within 30 days.