A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced two traders, Abubakar Sadiq, 25, and Isah Ibrahim, 27, to 12 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy and unlawful dealing in 11 kilograms of cannabis sativa, popularly known as marijuana.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu delivered the judgment on Friday after the duo pleaded guilty to the charges filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to the prosecutor, Barrister Abdullahi Buhari, the convicts were arrested on July 3 at the popular Alaba-Rago market along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, where they were caught selling the banned substance to customers.
Buhari explained that Sadiq was charged with two counts of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in cannabis, while Ibrahim faced one count of conspiracy. He added that their actions contravened sections 14(b) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution tendered exhibits and urged the court to convict them.
Their counsel, Barrister Evans Ajoku, pleaded for leniency, noting that the defendants were first-time offenders who saved the court’s time by admitting guilt. He urged the judge to consider non-custodial sentences or fines in place of imprisonment.
In her ruling, Justice Dipeolu sentenced each convict to six months’ imprisonment on each count. However, she gave them the option of fines: Sadiq was ordered to pay N1.1 million, while Ibrahim was fined N500,000.
The amended charge stated that the defendants conspired and trafficked 11 kilograms of cannabis sativa, a narcotic similar to cocaine, heroin, and LSD, contrary to the NDLEA Act.
