Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Lagos Federal High Court, today, Convict and sentenced five women for unlawful importation of 6.96 Kilogrames of Ghana loud, a special species of cannabis sativa, popularly called marijuana.
The five women convicted by the court were: Basirat Amope Olarigbibe a.k.a Basirat Feyisara Olaribigbe; Fatima Garuba a.k.a Fatima Ladidi Abogun; Amudalat Adekunle a.k.a Amudalat Ajetunmobi; Oloye Arafat Awele a.k.a Akanni Balikis Oluwatoyin and Ademola Bola a.k.a Tolulope Oluwaseun Osibeluwo, a.k.a. Tolulope Ademola.
Justice Aneke convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment, after they all pleaded guilty to a six-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the prohibited substance, made against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The prosecutor, Barrister Andover G. Yuanyam, while arraigning the convicted women, told the court that they were arrested with the prohibited substance on August 21, 2024, at Seme Boarder, Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos State.
Barrister Yuanyam told the court that the first convict, Basirat Amope Olarigbibe, was arrested 1.54 kilograms, the second and third convicts, Fatima Garuba and Amudalat Adekunle and we’re arrested with 1.47 kilograms and 1.52 kilograms of the the banned drug
He also told the court of Oloye Arafat Awele and Ademola Bola were arrested with 1.53 Kilograms and 900 grams of the banned substance.
Barrister Yuanyam told the court that the illegal acts of the five women contravened sections 14 and 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).
The convicted women pleaded guilty to the offence when the charges were read to them.
Based on their plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the matter, and urged the court to sentence them, based on their plea and exhibits tendered in the matter.
However, their lawyer, Oke Ojakovo, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients, on the ground that they are fir time convicts, who did not waste the time of the court.
He also told the court that the first and second convicts are widows who are the one responsible for the families.
He the court to grant his clients non-custodian sentence or a fine option.
Justice Aneke, after confirming from the prosecutor that the convicted women are first time convicts, sentenced each of them to two years imprisonment from today, one each count.
The judge while ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently, however awarded a fine option of N500k and 100 hours community service, in lieu of the jail-term.
