Court Jails Man 3 Years For Smuggling Indian Hemp Into Nigeria

A 64-year-old man, Gboyega Elegbeji who was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for smuggling 16.5 kilogrammes of Indian Hemp into Nigeria from Canada,  has been jailed for three years.

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted and sentenced Elegbeji for three years after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of drug trafficking brought against him by the NDLEA.

The prosecutor, Obiageli Iwuchukwu had informed the judge before the verdict was handed down that the convict had smuggled the banned substance in a Toyota Corolla with Chassis Number 2TIBR32E13C712679 and a 2004 Honda Ridgeline with Chassis Number 2HJYK16407H005052, both of which were concealed in a container numbered TRHU 7874497.

Iwuchukwu had also informed the court that the convict was arrested at the Tim Can Island Port in Apapa, Lagos, on June 14, 2022 with the illegal drug popularly called Indian Hemp.

While reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecutor tendered the convict’s confessional statement, Bill of Lading, test analysis report, a package of substance form and other exhibits, which were all admitted by the court.

Iwuchukwu further also told the court that a kilogram of Indian Hemp cost $15, 000, USD.

She then urged the court to convict and sentence the convict under the section he was charged in view of his guilty plea.

But the defence counsel, Gordon Okaka pleaded with the court to be lenient in sentencing his client because he is a first time offender and that he did not waste the time of the court.

Okaka also urged the court to take judicial notice of the fact that the convict is suffering from prostate Cancer, he therefore pleaded with the court to consider the option of a fine instead of a custodial sentence.

In his judgement, Justice Osiagor sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment on the one-count charge but in view of the plea of his lawyer gave him an option of N1 million fine.

The judge also directed the NDLEA to destroy the seized illicit substances valued at $247,500.