By Felix Kuyinu
One Ademola Oke has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment over illicit drug peddling.
Oke, 49-year-old carpenter, and father to six children, was arraigned at the Lagos State High Court where he was sentenced by Justice Ayokunle Faji.
The sentencing was held after the convict pleaded guilty to the offence.
During his arraignement by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on November 1 on a two-count charge bordering on illegal deal in restricted narcotics, the Prosecutor, Korinjo Aondofa, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several documents in support of his case. Some of the documents included: a request for scientific aid form, a packaging of substance form, statement of the convict, bulk of the substance, and a transparent pouch.
Aondofa said that Oke was caught with A181g of cannabis and 4.48g of Methamphetamine, both categorized as banned narcotics similar to cocaine and heroin in the NDLEA schedule.
He disclosed that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Law of the Federation, 2004.
The prosecutor prayed the court to convict and proceed to sentence the defendant based on his plea and evidence of prosecution.
Counsel to the defendant prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, saying his client was a first offender.
However, while delivering judgment, Justice Faji noted that the jailer had been unlawfully selling drugs for the past six years as a means of livelihood.
The Judge subsequently sentenced him to a term of nine months in prison on count one, and nine months on count two.
He held that the terms shall run concurrently from the date of arrest.
