A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a 35-year-old woman, Kuburat Ojulari, to four months community service over drug trafficking.
Ojulari was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge of drug trafficking, which she pleaded gulty to.
The Judge, Justice Musa Kakaki, in his verdict, sentenced the convict to four months community service to be monitored by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS)
Kakaki said that during the period of service, the convict was to undergo counselling by the NCS, adding that failure to abide by the decision of the court would amount to six months imprisonment.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Ms Ifeoma Erondu, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 24 at Ijora Area of Lagos.
She told the court that the defendant was apprehended with 500 grammes of cannabis sativa, which she concealed in a black nylon bag.
According to the prosecutor, cannabis is a restricted narcotics similar to cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs which are prohibited by law.
She said the offence contravened the provisions of section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Law of the Federation, 2004.
Following the convict’s guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several evidences through a prosecution witness, Mr Obadiah Tanyishi, an exhibit officer of the NDLEA.
The prosecution tendered a certificate of test analysis, packaging of substance form, a request for scientific aid form, drug analysis form, bulk of the substance, as well as statement of the defendant.
Erondu urged the court to convict the defendant, based on the charge, her guilty plea, as well as evidence presented by the prosecution.
The defence counsel, Mr G.U Okaka, begged the court to show mercy on the convict, who was a first offender and was already remorseful.