Lagos trader, 21, bags 5 years for illicit drug

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 21-year-old petty trader, Okechukwu Anekwe, to five years imprisonment for dealing in hemp.

Anekwe, who resides at No. 22, Ishaga Road, Balogun Bus Stop, Lagos, had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of illicit drug.

Justice Okon Abang, who handed down the verdict, said the court had no option than to sentence Anekwe since he had pleaded guilty to the charge.

“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 five years imprisonment which takes effect from the date of arrest,” Abang said.

He also ordered that the bulk of the drug be returned to the prosecution for destruction.

The judge, however, said the conviction was in accordance with the provision of Sections of the Criminal Procedure Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Abang had convicted Anekwe after the review of the facts of the case as provided by the prosecutor, Mr Orji Kalu, an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Kalu told the court that Anekwe committed the offence on June 3 at 1.39 p.m. on Railway line at Fagba area of Lagos.

According to him, the accused was caught by a team of NDLEA officers selling hemp.

The offence contravened Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

He tendered among other items, the bulk of the hard drug weighing 1kg, report of test analysis, certificate of drug analysis and confessional statement.

The items were admitted in evidence as exhibits.