… Jails Woman 3 Years For Illegal Possession Of Hard Drug

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a middle age-lady, Opeyemi Oguntade to three years imprisonment, for dealing in one kilogramme of Cannabis Sativa.

Oguntade was jailed by the court after she pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of Illegal possession of hard drugs brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA).

The prosecutor, Paul Awogbuyi had earlier told the court that the convict was arrested with the banned substance at UPS Courier Services, Benson area of Ikorodu, Lagos, on June 13, 2022.

Awogbuyi had also informed the judge that the convict violated Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 and was punishable under the same Act.
Based on her guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and also urged the court to convict and sentence her according to the proscribed law under which she was charged.
But the defence lawyer, Bolanle Kolawole, in her allocator, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as her client is now remorseful.
Kolawole also informed the judge that the convict was a victim of circumstances and urged the court to consider an option of a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
Justice Osiagor in his judgment sentenced the convict to a year imprisonment, with an option of N100,000, instead of the jail term.