A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Friday sentenced an illicit drug dealer, Tofade Ojo, 48, to three years in prison over unlawful trafficking of 17.5kg of Cannabis Sativa.
Delivering judgment, Justice Uche Agomoh held that she sentenced Ojo based on the overwhelming evidence against him and the guilty plea he entered.
“Ordinarily, the punishment for this offence is life imprisonment, but the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 forbids the court from imposing a life imprisonment punishment on a first time offender.
“I hope that the convict is truly remorseful of his action and would use the opportunity provided as a second chance never to partake in any form of crime again.
“However, to serve as a warning to others thinking of engaging in the illicit trade, Ojo is sentenced to three years in prison.
“The sentence takes note of the date the convict had been remanded in the prison.
“The weed exhibit found in his possession shall be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),” the judge said.
Earlier, the defense counsel, Mr Kehinde Olawuni, had prayed the court to be liberal in sentencing his client.
Olawuni added that the convict had already spent close to two years in Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan before he eventually pleaded guilty to the crime.
The NDLEA counsel, Ms Ann Balogun had informed the court that Ojo was arraigned on a-count charge of unlawful dealing in Cannabis Sativa.
According to Balogun, the convict was arrested by vigilant Customs officials in Ibadan on April 5, 2022.
She further disclosed that Ojo, who was 46 years old at that time, was caught in possession of a brown sack containing 17.5kg of Indian Hemp and handed over to the NDLEA operatives.
The prosecutor stated that the offence contravened Section 11(C ) of the NDLEA Act Cap 30 Laws of the Federation 2004.
