Man, 41, bags 15 years imprisonment for being in possession of Indian hemp, cocaine

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, sentenced a 41-year-old man, Emmanuel Eguazor, to 15 years imprisonment for being in possession of 300g of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) and 8.5g of cocaine.

The convict had been arraigned by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a two-count charge, bordering on possession of hard drugs without lawful authority.

Following his guilty plea, the Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, reviewed the facts of the case and handed down the sentence, maintaining that the convict was found guilty of committing the crime.

Egwuatu, however, gave the convict an option of N1 million fine for each of the counts.

Counsel to the convict, Mr S.O. Magondo, had pleaded with the judge to be lenient in handing down the sentence.

Magondo told the court that his client was a first time offender who did not waste the time of the court by pleading guilty to the offences.

He also said Eguazor had a wife and four children who would suffer if the ultimate sentence of 25 years imprisonment was handed down.

Newsmen reports that the convict was arrested in August 2021.