Ibadan – Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday sentenced two men, Dauda Popoola and Akeem Emiola, to 36 months imprisonment for trafficking in 10kg of Indian Hemp.
Ayo-Emmanuel, in two separate judgments, held that the suspects were convicted based on the evidence before him and their plea of guilt.
“I will not consider the plea for mercy by the defence counsel because Popoola and Emiola are both able-bodied men who have every opportunity in this world to work.
“The first convict is hereby sentenced to two years in jail from the day of arrest and the second convict is sentenced to 16 months in jail from the day of arrest.
“It is my hope that this will serve as a deterrent to others with similar motive,” the Judge said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Counsel to the convict, Mr Musbau Olapade, had earlier prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in punishing his clients.
According to Olapade, I pray the court to temper justice with mercy as the convicts are first-time offenders and today being the first day of December and with the birth of Jesus Christ, which would be celebrated this month.
Earlier, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, Mr Raphael Himinkaye, said that the convicts were arraigned on a one-count charge of unlawful dealing in Indian hemp.
Himinkaiye submitted that Popoola was arrested on Oct. 4, 2015 at Moniya Area in Ibadan, while Emiola was arrested on Oct. 22, at the Challenge Area of Ibadan.
According to the prosecutor, the first convict was found in possession of a concealed sack with five kg of Indian hemp, while the second convict was caught with four kg of the narcotic drug, also concealed in a sack.
He explained that the offence contravened Section 11 (C ) of the NDLEA) Act, Caps N30, Law of the Federation, 2004. (NAN)
