Cobbler remanded in prison over Indian hemp trafficking

A 25-year-old man, one Rasheed Lawal, was Thursday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos over drug peddling.

The prosecutor, Mr. Jeremiah Aernan, said Lawal, a cobbler, who resides at Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos, committed the offence on September 19.

According to him, Lawal was arrested at Ajiran Community in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State with about 300 grammes of Cannabis sativa, adding that the accused was reported to be a major dealer of narcotic.

Aernan said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

“The offence of drug trafficking could attract up to a term of life imprisonment, if convicted,” Aernan added.

The chief judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, passed judgement on the accused after he pleaded guilty to a charge of drug trafficking preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

In his ruling, Aneke said, “Following the plea of the accused and all evidences presented by the prosecution, the accused is found guilty as charged and is hereby convicted.

“Accordingly, he is sentenced to a term of one and half year imprisonment, beginning from the date of his arrest.

“The drug exhibits are to be destroyed by the NDLEA, if there is no appeal against this judgment,” Aneke ruled.

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