Court Jails Man 2yrs For Trafficking In 100 Grams Of Marijuana

Court Jails Man 2yrs For Trafficking In 100 Grams Of Marijuana

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a 19 year-old man, Sabiu Musa to two years imprisonment for trafficking in 100 grams of Cannabis Sativa, popularly called marijuana.

Justice Olatoregun handed down the verdict after the convict pleaded guilty to the charge against him by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

While reviewing the fact of the case, the prosecutor, Jerry Aernan had informed the court that the convict was arrested by the operative of NDLEA, on October 24, 2017, on Owo street, Maracas area of Agege, while unlawfully possessing the said banned weed, weighing 100 grams.

Aernan also informed the court that the convict admitted being the owner of the said weed and that upon conducting forensic test on the weed, it proof to be prohibited Cannabis Sativa.

To proof his case against the convict, the prosecutor tendered the prohibited weed, the report of the forensic test, confessional statement of the convict and some others documents as exhibits, which were all admitted in evidence by the court.

Upon completion of the review of the fact of the case, the prosecutor urges the court to pronounce the convict guilty as charge, and accordingly sentence him.

The convict, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded with the court, to have mercy on him, and promised not to engage in the act if given another opportunity. 

He also appeal to the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him.

After listened to the plea of the convict, the Justice Olatoregun, sentenced him to two years jail term with hard labour. 

The judge however, gave the convict an option of N2 million fine, as an alternative to the jail term.

The 19 years old convict, Sabiu Musa, was first arraigned before the court on November 27, 2017, on a count charge of unlawful possession of 100 grams of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD.

The offence according to NDLEA is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(C) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004