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….. To Pay N20M Fine, Forfeits Izuzu Truck To FG
Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos today convicted and sentenced a Lagos socialite Mrs Fayisara Ajoke Opaleye and one Abideen Adio to a fine of N20 million and N10 million respectively for dealing in 1,540 kilogrammes ( one and half tons) of Cannabis Sativa.
In addition to the fine , the court also ordered the second defendant, Abideen Adio to forfeited an Isuzu Truck with Registration No. LSD 127 YK, Chassis, Number JAANPR71HE7101834 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
According to the two counts charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Fayisara A joke Opaleye female, 61 years old on or about the 31st of December, 2024 at No. 33 Adebayo Oyebayo Street along Ago Palace Road, Okota, Lagos State without lawful authority was said to have dealt in 1,540 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.
He second defendant Abideen Adio male, 41 years old was said to have on or about the 31st December, 2024 at No. 33 Adebayo Oyebayo Street along Ago Palace Road, Okota, Lagos State without lawful authority transported 1,540 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD by using Isuzu Truck with Registration No. LSD 127 YK, Chassis, No. JAANPR71HE7101834.
The offence committed according to the charge is said to be contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
When the matter came up for trial on Friday the prosecutor, Mr Buhari Abdulahi of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, informed the court a two count amended charge and urged the court to order that the charge be ready so that the defendants can take their plea.
The charge was then read and the two defendants pleaded guilty to same.
Following the guilty plea of the defendants, the prosecutor, Abdulahi reviewed the facts of the case by tendering relevant exhibits.
Abdulshi then urged the court to convict the defendants based on their please of guilt and the evidence adduced by the prosecution. He also moved an application for the forfeiture of the Isuzu Truck with Registration No. LSD 127 YK, Chassis, No. JAANPR71HE7101834 used as instrumentality of committing the crime.
Justice Kakaki after listening to the prosecution and in the absence of opposition from the defence counsel convicted the defendant as charge.
In his allocutus the defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara pleaded for mercy on their behalf. He said the defendants are both first time offenders and in particular the first defendant is above 60 years old and very sick.
Ndakara said it takes great courage for someone to voluntarily come from home to come and plead guilty to an offence. This the lawyer said should be taken as a sign of being remorseful.
The defence counsel added that since the release of the first defendant she has being of tremendous assistance to the agency by providing useful information to them.
On the second defendant, Ndakara said that he is a young man who has being in detention for the past one year and now about to lose a truck worth millions. He urged the court to award a non custodian sentence by imposing fine considering the health challenge of the first defendant, the timely guilty plea of both defendants.
The prosecutor, Abdulahi while not opposing the option of non custodian sentence as canvassed by Bdakara due to the health challenge of the first defendant, urged the court to consider the large quantity of the drug involved 1,540 Kilograms ( one and half tons) of Cannabis Sativa which was packed in 40 jumbo sacks.
Abdulahi also urged the court to forfeit the instrumentality used in committing the crime an Isuzu Truck with Registration No. LSD 127 YK, Chassis, No. JAANPR71HE7101834 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Kakaki after listening to both counsel, sentence the first defendant to a fine of N20 million while the second defendant is ordered to pay a fine of N10 million. In addition ,the second defendant is to forfeit the Izuzu truck used as instrumentality of committing the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The two counts amended charge files against the defendant reads:
That you Fayisara Ajoke Opaleye Female, 61 years old on or about the 31% December, 2024 at No. 33 Adebayo Oyebayo Street along Ago Palace Road, Okota, . Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority dealt in 1,540 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and , punishable under sections 11(b) and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
That you Abideen Adio, Male, 41 years old on or about the 31st day if December, 2024 at Number 33 Adebayo Oyebayo Street along Ago Palace Road, Okota, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority transported 1,540 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD by using Isuzu Truck with Registration No. LSD 127 YK, Chassis, No. JAANPR71HE7101834 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
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