A petty trader, Sadiq Balogun was on Thursday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for dealing in heroin.
Balogun, 27, a resident of Ikpodu Street in Ikeja area of the State, upon his conviction pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.
Justice Okon Abang who presided over the case sentenced the accused following a review of the facts of the case as presented by an NDLEA prosecutor, Mr. Orji Kalu.
According to Kalu, Balogun committed the offence at his residence on December 6, 2014.
He told the court that Balogun was arrested by a team of NDLEA officials while he was selling 11.6 grammes of heroin.
He said, “The NDLEA men caught her while she was selling heroin. She was arrested with 11.6g of the substance.”
The Jugde, Justice Abang, however, stressed that the confessional statement by Balogun shows that he had been involved in smoking and selling of heroin, cocaine and hemp for over 10 years.
Abang affirmed, “I condemn in strong terms the act of the convict as it is harmful to the society.
“Based on the plea of the accused and the evidence before the court, the accused is found guilty as charged and accordingly convicted.
“He is hereby sentenced to 10 years imprisonment which takes effect from the date of arraignment.”
The Judge further noted that the sentence was to deter others from getting involved in hard drugs.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Mrs. O. O. Ogunleye, had asked the court to be lenient in its judgement.
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