Court jails man for 7 years for selling Indian hemp

A cannabis dealer in Lagos has been sentenced twice in two days at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos.

Afiz Isah, 30, also known as Agama who resides at Iketuga Street, Meiran, Lagos, was first sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for dealing in 29 kilogrammes of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis by Justice C. J. Aneke on Monday.

Two days later, his matter was brought before Justice Okon Abang over unlawful dealing in 3.9kg of cannabis and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Jeremiah Aernan, NDLEA prosecutor, informed the court that the accused was not a first offender as he was sentenced two days earlier by another court for the same offence.

“We confirmed that Afiz sold cannabis to a female drug trafficker, Toyin Raimi, before police apprehended him at Atubaje Street Agege, Lagos and transferred him to NDLEA,” said Mr. Aernan.

Mr. Isah pleaded guilty to cannabis trading before Justice Abang and begged for forgiveness.

“I want the court to forgive me and have mercy on me. I am married with children and I want to be with my family,” the convict said.

“I have made up my mind not to sell cannabis again. If you forgive me I will go back to my village in Kwara State to farm.”

Delivering his judgment, Mr. Abang said that the convict did not deserve mercy.

“I have gone through the facts of the case and it was clear that the accused distributed cannabis to some dealers within the state,” said the judge.

“I will therefore put an end to his menace and save the society from further damage resulting from his criminal activities. He is hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment.”

Preliminary investigation by the NDLEA indicated that a drug trafficker, Toyin Raimi, was arrested with 29kg of cannabis by NDLEA officers in Lagos.

During interrogation, she named Mr. Isah as her supplier.

Coincidentally, police transferred Mr. Isah with 3.9kg of cannabis to the NDLEA.

He was eventually charged separately for supplying Ms. Raimi cannabis as well as the 3.9kg found on him.

Ahmadu Giade, the Chairman of NDLEA, said that punishment for drug traffickers should be commensurate with the offence.

“It is important for drug traffickers to be taken out of circulation for a reasonable time to discourage others who may be tempted to smuggle drugs,” Mr. Giade said.