A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki today convicted a former banker with First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Awosika Joy for brewing a beverage laced with Cannabis Sativa.
Justice Kakaki while sentencing the convict ordered her to pay the sum of N4million as fine for the said offence and to further forfeits three vehicles used as instrumentality of the crime.
The forfeited vehicles are: a white Volkswagen van with Chassis Number WV1ZZZ70Z1HO84067 and marked AKD 510 YJ; a white and green Toyota mini truck with Chassis Number YU600002559 and marked LSC 999 YK, and a yellow Ford van marked AKD 511 YJ, with Chassis Number IF TNE24W26HA41967.
The trial judge passed the sentence on Awosika following her guilty plea to the two counts charge of dealing in the banned substance.
According to the charge, the 45 years old female convict was said to have on or about the 10th day of September, 2025 at Caritas Event Centre, Ibeshe, Ikorodu Area of Lagos State without lawful authority, dealt in 6,096 litres of “Skuchies”, which tested positive to Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin, and LSD, and thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
When the matter came up for trial today, the Prosecutor Mr Bahari Abdullahi told the court of the pending charge and urged the court to order that the charge be read so that defendant can take her plea.
The charge was then read and Awosika Joy pleaded guilty to same.
Following her guilty plea, the facts of the case was reviewed with exhibits tendered and admitted in evidence.
Consequent upon the review of the fact if the case the prosecutor, Abdullahi urged the court to convict the defendant as charge.
Abdullahi also urged the court to forfeit the three vehicles used as instrumentality of the crime.
Justice Kakaki after reviewing the facts of the case as submitted by the Prosecutor convicted the defendant as charge
In her allocutus, the defendant’s lawyer, Chief (Mrs ) Lylian Omotunde pleaded for for mercy on behalf of the convict.
She said the convict is a single mother with 4 children, who hold a Masters degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife,
Omotunde added that Awisika who is an ex-banker with First Bank of Nigeria Plc went into the illicit business after leaving the banking sector to start her own business and her business collapsed.
She urged the court to grant an option of fine instead of custodian sentence as the convict is sick.
After listening to the allocutus, Justice Kakaki in his sentence, ordered the convict to pay a fine of N4 million, he also ordered her to forfeit the three vehicles used as instruments of committing the offence to the Federal Government if Nigeria.
The three vehicles are: a white Volkswagen van with Chassis Number WV1ZZZ70Z1HO84067 and marked AKD 510 YJ; a white and green Toyota mini truck with Chassis Number YU600002559 and marked LSC 999 YK, and a yellow Ford van marked AKD 511 YJ, with Chassis Number IF TNE24W26HA41967.
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