Lagos – A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced one Garuba Kwali, 25, to one year imprisonment for peddling Cannabis, known popularly as Indian Hemp.
The convict was earlier charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a charge bordering on the offence.
Kwali was not represented by a lawyer and had pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Abdulazeez Anka, convicted him of the offence and sentenced him to one year imprisonment.
According to him, based on the evidence adduced by prosecution, the court is satisfied that the guilt of the accused has been established.
“He is accordingly convicted as charged and hereby sentenced to one year imprisonment beginning from the date of his arrest.”
The judge also ordered the drug exhibit in custody of the NDLEA to be destroyed.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernana, told court that the accused committed the offence on March 16, 2016.
He said that he was arrested at Dantata Terminal along Alakija road on the Lagos-Badagry highway in Lagos, where he traded on the narcotics.
Aernan said that about 300g of Cannabis Sativa was seized from the convict.
He explained that cannabis was a narcotic substance similar to cocaine and heroine.
Aernan said that the convict was consequently, arrested and charged.
Shortly before his sentence, the accused prayed the court to show mercy on him for being a first offender, pledging that he would never commit the offence.
To establish its case, the prosecution had tendered before the court a statement of the accused, a large brown sealed envelope, a request for scientific aid form as well as a test analysis form.
He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, 2004. (NAN)