A Sixty-four years old Canadian returnee, Gboyega Ayoola Elegbeji, was yesterday convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment, for smuggling 16. 5 kilograms of Cannabis into the country.
Justice Daniel Osiagor convicted him following his plea of guilty to a count of the charge made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The prosecutor, Obiageli Iwuchukwu, told the court that the convict had smuggled the banned substance in a Toyota Corolla with Chassis Number 2TIBR32E13C712679 and a 2004 Honda Ridgeline with Chassis Number 2HJYK16407H005052, which were concealed in a container numbered TRHU 7874497.
The prosecutor also informed the court that the convict was arrested at the Tim Can Island, Apapa, Lagos, on June 14, 2022,
She told the court that the offence committed is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor, with the Court’s permission, reviewed the facts of the charge, tendered statement, Bill of Lading, test analysis report, and a package substance form among others, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
The prosecutor also told the court that a kilogram of Indian Hemp, cost $15, 000, USD.
She urged the court to convict and sentence the convict in accordance with the section he was charged.
However, counsel to the defendant, G. O. Okaka, pleaded with the court to be lenient in sentencing his client.
Okaka told the court that his client is suffering from prostate cancer, and pleaded with the court to consider the option of a fine in lieu of the custodian sentence.
Justice Osiagor, after hearing from counsel, sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment.
The judge however ordered the convict to pay the sum of N1 million in lieu of the sentence. The Court also ordered that seized substance be publicly destroyed.
In a related development, a middle age-lady, Opeyemi Hannah Oguntade, was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment, for being in possession of one kilogram of Cannabis Sativa.
The prosecutor, Paul Awogbuyi, told the court that the convict was arrested with the banned substance at UPS Courier Services, Benson area of Ikorodu, Lagos, on June 13, 2022.
The prosecutor told the court that the convict’s act contravened section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 and punishable under the same Act.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charge.
Upon her guilty plea, the prosecutor, after reviewing the facts of the charge, urged the court to convict and sentence her according to the proscribed NDLEA Act, in which she was charged.
But the convict’s lawyer, Bolanle Kolawole, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing her client.
Bolanle also told the court that her client was a victim of circumstances and urged the court to consider the option of a fine instead of a custodian sentence.
Justice Osiagor in his judgment sentenced the convict to a year imprisonment, with an option of N100, 000, in lieu of the jail term.
