A Federal High Court in Lagos, has sentenced one Peter Okolo, 21, to six months imprisonment for peddling 600g of Cannabis Sativa, also known as
Indian Hemp.
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The Court however, gave the convict an option of N20,000 fine.
The defendant was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one count charge of drug trafficking, to which he pleaded guilty before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
After his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case before the court, and tendered some exhibits.
The exhibits included a written statement of the defendant, a drug analysis form, a request for scientific aid form, as well as remnant of the narcotics.
The court admitted the evidences and marked them as exhibits, accordingly.
Aernan urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant based on his plea as well as evidences adduced by prosecution.
In his verdict, Justice Aneke found the defendant guilty of the offence and accordingly convicted him.
During an allocutus (plea for mercy), the defendant begged for leniency from the court, and promised to be a changed person.
In his verdict, Aneke sentenced the convict to a term of six months imprisonment to begin from the date of his arrest.
The court also gave the convict an option of N20,000 fine.
According to the charge, Peter Okolo was said to have committed the offence on Sept. 28, 2019.
He was arrested on a tip off at Cardinal Hotel, Balogun market, CMS Lagos, while engaging in sale of Cannabis Sativa, which weighed 600g.
According to the NDLEA, Cannabis is a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and trafficking in same contravenes the provisions of Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.