A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a drug trafficker, Azu Joseph, to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of N25 million in lieu of imprisonment for importing 1.1 tons of Cannabis Indica into Nigeria. The trial judge, Musa Kakaki, handed down the sentence after Joseph was convicted on a one-count charge of unlawful importation of Cannabis Indica.
Details of the Case
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned the convict for unlawfully importing 1,183 kilogrammes of Cannabis Indica, a variant of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD, from Montreal, Canada, into Nigeria. He concealed the drugs inside the boot of an imported red Hyundai Santa Fe 2005 model car with VIN SXY7UDLBGIG786648.
Court Proceedings
When the matter came up for arraignment, the NDLEA prosecution counsel, led by Kunle Adebajo, informed the court about the charge and obtained its leave to proceed with the matter. The charge was then read and Joseph pleaded guilty to the one-count charge. Following the defendant's guilty plea, the prosecution informed the court that it had reviewed the facts of the case, while all relevant documents and exhibits were tendered and admitted in evidence. Adebajo then urged the court to convict the defendant based on his guilty plea and the evidence adduced.
Sentencing and Plea for Mercy
After analysing the evidence and in the absence of objection from Bola Bolawole, the defence counsel, Justice Kakaki convicted Joseph as charged. In her allocutus, Bolawole pleaded for mercy on behalf of the convict. She added that the convict was a first-time offender who did not waste the court's time and was now remorseful. She further stated that the convict had pledged to turn over a new leaf if granted another chance. However, Justice Kakaki sentenced the convict to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of N25 million in lieu of imprisonment.
