Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a trader, Saheed Ojomu to five years imprisonment for allowing his friend to use his shop to warehouse 372.6 kilogrammes of cannabis.
The 51-year-old convict, whose shops are located at 1 Osho Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State, was jailed by Justice Osiagor after he changed his not guilty plea to guilty.
The convict was arrested with the banned substance on March 31, 2017, by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
After his arrest, the client had claimed that the banned weed belonged to one of his friends Sakiru (now at large).
The charge against him read, “That you, Saheed Ojomu, male, adult, 46 years old, on or about the 31st day of March 2017 at No. 1, Osho Street, Island, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court being occupier and manager of a Shop at No.1, Osho Street Lagos Island, unlawfully permitted same to be used by one Sakiru (now at large) to store dealing in 372.6 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
During his trial, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered some exhibits, which the court has admitted.
The defence counsel, Mrs Vivienne Ekwegh, informed the court that her client had decided to change his plea.
The position which prosecutor, Mrs N. J. Mamza, confirmed.
With the new development, the presiding judge, Justice Osiagor, asked that the convict’s plea be retaken and the prosecutor reviews the charge’s facts.
Upon reviewing the facts of the charge, the prosecutor, Mrs Mamza, urged the court to convict and sentence the shop owner by the relevant laws that he was charged with.
She, therefore, urged the court to give him an option of a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
In his judgment, Justice Osiagor sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment.
