A bus driver, Ifeanyi Okorie, 39, and his assistant popularly called Motor boy, Israel Nwachukwu, 23, were today convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, by a Lagos Federal High Court, for unlawful transportation of 564.55 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa also known as Marijuana.
In addition to the jail term, the driver and his assistant were ordered to perform two months of community service of one hour per day, anywhere in Eti-Osa Local Government area of Lagos State.
They were also ordered to provide a credible sureties, that will stand for them during the period of the two months community service.
Justice Akintayo Aluko gave the verdicts while delivering judgment in a charge filed against the convicts by the men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The two convicts were brought before the court on charges of conspiracy and unlawful transportation of the prohibited weed.
The prosecutor, N. J. Mamza, had told the court that the convicts were arrested on December 11, 2022, at the 2nd Toll Gate, Opposite V.G.C. Estate, Lekki, Lagos, while illegally transporting the prohibited leaves.
The prosecutor told the court that the acts of the convicts are contrary to and punishable under Section 14 (b) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The two convicts pleaded to the charges. The development, which made the prosecutor to urged the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the sections of the NDLEA that they were charged with.
But their lawyer, R. M. J Nyier, in her allocutor, pleaded with the court to give her the option of fine in lieu of custodian sentence, arguing that her clients are first time offenders and they did not waste precious of time.
Justice Aluko while considering the submissions made by parties, and cited some legal authorities, sentenced the convicts a 10-year imprisonment, with two months community service.
The court however ordered them to pay the sum of N1.5 million each as an option to the jail-term.
Justice Aluko also ordered interim forfeiture of a Green Coloured Volkswagen LT 45 bus with registration, chassis and engine numbers: AKD 850 YE; WV22ZZ221ZRH009840; DVO14814 respectively.
The judge made the interim forfeiture order of the bus, after the prosecutor has made an application for the order.
In asking for the forfeiture order, the prosecutor, Mamza, told the court that the application was pursuant to Sections 3(c); 31 (A); 32(C); 33(1)(A), 34, 36 of the NDLEA Act. Cap. N30 LFN 2004; Section 44 (2)(K) of the Constitution Of Nigeria 1999, and Order 26 Rule 8 of Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
