Court jails woman 10 years for trafficking in Indian hemp
A woman, Saliu Mariam, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, by a Lagos Federal High Court for trafficking in 2.5 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.
The woman was convicted by Justice Daniel Osiagor, after she pleaded guilty to a count-charge of unlawful export of the prohibited weed, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convict, according to the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, was arrested on March 5, 2022, during the examination of intending cargoes to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Skyway Handling Company Limited (SAHCO) Export Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Abu told the court that the convict procured an agent, Audu Muhammed, to commit the act.
The prosecutor told the court that the offence committed by the convict, section 21 (1)(e) and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the Convict’s guilty of plea, with the exhibits tendered, Justice Osiagor sentenced her to 10 years imprisonment.
However, the after considered allucutor made by the Convict’s lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, gave her an option of fine in the sum of N200, 000.
The charge against the convict reads; “that you Saliu Mariam, Female, Adult, on or about the 5th of March, 2022 during the examination of intending Cargoes to Dubai at Skyway Handling Company Limited (SAHCO) Export Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos procured one Audu Muhammed to export 1.55 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (1) (e) and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
