20-yr-old mechanic bags 2-yrs jail term for dealing in hemp

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced a 20-year-old mechanic to two years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

The convict, Samshudeen Olowu, was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge of dealing in restricted narcotics.

Olowu, who had pleaded not guilty to the charge on his first arraignment on April 25, changed his plea and pleaded guilty at the resumed hearing on Thursday.

Following his plea, the Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several evidence which the court admitted as exhibits.

Delivering her judgment, Justice Ishola Olatoregun, found the accused guilty as charged, and convicted him accordingly.

“The convict is hereby sentenced to a term of two years imprisonment, or an option of one million naira fine in lieu,” Olatoregun said in her judgment.

The judge also ordered that the drug remnants should be destroyed by the NDLEA within 90 days if no appeal is filed against the judgment.

Earlier, the prosecutor had told the court that Olowu was arrested on March 12 at a cannal near Aguda in Surulere area of Lagos with about 220 grams of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp).

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Law of the Federation, 2004.

In his plea for mercy, the convict begged the court to temper justice with mercy and promised to be a better person if given a second chance.