Court Convicts Mother of Two, Landlady Over 28.8kg Cannabis
By Emmanuel Daniji
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted a 40-year-old mother of two, Helen Ese Idiji, and a 53-year-old landlady, Sa’adullah Rashidat, over their involvement in the dealing and storage of 28.8 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana.
Justice Friday Ogazi convicted the two women after they pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The prosecution, led by Juliana Negedu, told the court that the defendants were arrested on June 25, 2025, at No. 15 Olumoko Street, Amukoko, Lagos, a property belonging to Rashidat where the illicit substance was allegedly stored.
The case was filed as FHC/L/CR/544/2026.
Idiji was charged with conspiracy and unlawful dealing in cannabis, while Rashidat faced similar charges relating to conspiracy and the storage of the banned substance.
The prosecution said the offences violated Sections 14(b), 11(c) and 12 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution called an exhibit keeper, Ogah Aliyu Mohammed, who tendered the recovered cannabis and other materials before the court. The exhibits were admitted in evidence without objection.
Negedu subsequently urged the court to convict the defendants in accordance with their pleas and the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
However, defence counsel Dennis Warri appealed to the court for leniency, describing both women as first-time offenders with no previous criminal records.
Warri told the court that the defendants were remorseful and had acknowledged that difficult circumstances could not justify criminal conduct. He urged Justice Ogazi to consider non-custodial sentences in line with the provisions of the ACJA.
After confirming from the prosecution that the women had no previous convictions, Justice Ogazi convicted them and ordered that they be remanded in a Nigerian Correctional Service facility.
The court adjourned the matter until September 2, 2026, for sentencing.
