By Olawale Akinremi
A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Thursday sentenced two drug peddlers, Lekan Raji and Iyabo Adigun, to two years each for dealing in 6.107 Kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa.
Justice Uche Agomoh convicted and sentenced Raji and Adigun after their guilty plea to the one-count amended charge of unlawful dealing in narcotics instituted against them.
Agomoh acknowledged that both convicts had not been previously convicted and did not waste the court’s time and resources.
She, however, said she was sentencing them to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The weed exhibit found in possession of the convicts is forfeited to the NDLEA and shall be destroyed.
“The N89,700 recovered from the duo as proceeds from the sale of Cannabis is, hereby, forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” she held.
Following the admission of guilt by the convicts, the defence counsel, Mr Musbau Olapade, had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr D. O. Otunla, told the court that the convicts committed the crime on Feb. 14, at Oriyangi-Idiosan area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Otunla further stated that the NDLEA operatives arrested Raji and Adigun in possession of a multi-coloured sack containing the drug substance.
He noted that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11(C) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation 2004.