A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Monday sentenced a 36-year-old woman, Omolara Atoyebi, to one year in prison for dealing in 895 grammes of Cannabis Sativa.
In her judgment, Justice Nkeonye Maha stated that Atoyebi was convicted and sentenced based on evidence presented by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and her guilty plea.
Maha noted that she took into account the fact that the convict was a first-time offender who did not waste the “precious” time of the court before pleading guilty.
“I hope that the convict is truly remorseful of her action and has turned a new leaf. However, to serve as deterrent to others willing to embark on the illicit business, Atoyebi is sentenced to one year imprisonment for the offence. Sentencing starts from the date she was first arrested and detained. The exhibit found in her possession shall be destroyed by the NDLEA,” the judge said.
The NDLEA prosecuting officer in Oyo State, Mr Daniel Otunla, had earlier informed the court that the convict committed the offence on 28 March at the Fatima-Apata area of Ibadan.
Otunla said NDLEA operatives acted on intelligence reports from informants indicating that the convict was dealing in drugs and had a quantity of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.
According to him, the operatives promptly moved in and found the convict with 895 grammes of the illegal substance.
He stated that the offence contravened Section 11 (C) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation 2004.
(NAN)