By Onozure Dania

Lagos—Justice Chika Obiozor of a Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a 38-year-old drug peddler, Rasheed Adekunle, to three years imprisonment, over sale of Cannabis Sativa, popularly called Marijuana and Igbo.

Obiozor sentenced the convict after the National Drugs Laws and Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, prosecutor, Mr. Jeremiah Aernan, revie-wed the facts of the charge against the convict.

The convict had pleaded guilty to a count charge of unlawful dealing in the banned weed, during his arraignment.

While reviewing the facts of the offence, the NDLEA’s prosecutor, informed the court that the convict was arrested by the agency’s operatives on August 17, at Two Boys House, Iba Road, Ibeju-Ajah, Lagos, with 2.1 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic similar to cocaine, heroine and other controlled drugs, which he was not permitted to carry by law.

Aernan told the court that the convict’s act was contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Aernan, after reviewing the facts of the case, urged the court to convict and sentence the drug dealer accordingly.

The convict had earlier pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy and promised not to trade in the banned weed or any other hard drugs if given second opportunity.

Justice Obiozor, after listening to the review of the facts of the case by the prosecutor, as well as the convict’s leniency plea, sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment.

The judge said the jail term commenced from August 17, when he was first arrested.