A casual worker with Chi Limited, the producers of Chivita juice drinks, Jacob Japheth, has been convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, by a Lagos Federal High Court, for unlawful dealing in cannabis sativa, popularly called marijuana and Methamphetamine, a Psychotropic Substance.
The 21 years oldman, was given the jail-term after pleaded guilty to two count charges of unlawful dealing in the prohibited substances.
The prosecutor, M. J. Orondu, told the court that the convicted man was arrested with the prohibited items on September 13, 2023, at Honda area of Ajao Estate.
He told the court that during the convict’s arrested, he was in possession of 80 grams of marijuana and 7 grams of Methamphetamine.
The prosecutor told the court the convict’s action contravened section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT Cap N.30 Laws of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
She consequently urged the court to sentence the convict in accordance with the section of the laws he was charged with.
However, the convict’s lawyer, Prosper Ojakovo, in his allucutor, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict.
Ojakovo told the court that the convict was a casual worker with ‘Chivita’ company, and that he had promised not to engage in any form of illegality if given another opportunity.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, after listening to the prosecutor and the convict’s lawyer, and after citing plethoras of authorites and the effects of hard drugs in the country, sentenced the convict to 12 months imprisonment, starting from the date he was arrested.
The judge also ordered convict to pay the sum of N1 million in lieu of the prison term. While also ordered the convict to perform 100 hour community service.
In a related development, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke also convicted and sentenced one Ibrahim Jimoh Olasunkanmi, to 18 months imprisonment.
Justice Aneke convicted and sentenced the 36 years old man, after he pleaded guilty to the two counts charge of unlawful possession and dealing in 6.2 grams of cocaine.
The prosecutor, N. J. Mamza, had told the court that the convict was arrested with the banned drug on July 10, 2023, at Dancroft Compound, Milverton Estate, Lekki, Lagos State.
She told the court that the convict’s acts are contrary to and punishable under sections 19 and 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The convict’s lawyer, Oreofe Ogunleye, however pleaded with the court to be merciful to her client. Saying that he is a first time convict, who did not have any record of conviction.
Justice Aneke in his judgment sentenced the convict to 18 months imprisonment, in alternative, he ordered the convict to pay the sum of N1 million in lieu of the jail-term.
