A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today convicted and sentenced a 56-year old Mushin-based, drug dealer, Kazeem Isiaka to three years imprisonment or a fine of N3m for unlawful dealing in 517 kilograms of cannabis Sativa otherwise known as marijuana and 112.9 Liters of Codeine Syrup.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa imposed the jail-term or an option of M3 million fine after the defendant pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convicted drug dealer, according to the prosecutor, Mariam I. Erondu, was arrested with the prohibited drugs by the NDLEA operatives on October 26, 2024, at his hideout , 21, Anifowose Street, Mushin, Lagos, the drugs includes 517 kilogramme of cannabis Sativa and 112.9 Liters of Codeine Syrup .
According to the prosecution the offences committed by Kazeem Isiaka contravened sections 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N.30, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
Upon the reading of the charge, the defendant admitted commiting the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the section of the NDLEA Acts he was charged with.
However, the defendant’s lawyer, Augustine Nwagwu, a former prosecutor of NDLEA but now in private practice, pleaded with court to tamper justice with mercy.
Nwagwu hinged his mercy plea for the defendant, for being a first time offender and for not wasting the time of the court.
He urged the court to give his client non-custodian sentence.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa after listening to parties’ submissions, sentence the defendant to five years imprisonment. But ordered him to pay N3 million, in lieu of the jail-term.
