Justice Ibrahim Kala of the Federal High Lagos, today convicted and sentence one Salami Abideen Jide to six years imprisonment or a fine of N6,000,000 for trafficking in 32.20kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa.
Jide was also charged for procuring one Ebenezer Bayode, a freight forwarding agent of Maykar Ventures to import 32.20kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.
When the matter came up for trial today, Barrister Cyril Osaigbovo who represented Barrister Abu Ibrahim as the prosecuting counsel told Justice Ibrahim Kala that the prosecution has a two counts charge and urged the court to order that the charge be read so that the defendant can take his plea.
The charge was then read and the defendant pleaded guilty to the two count charge.
Following his guilty plea to the two counts charge, Barrister Osaigbovo informed the court of his readiness to review the facts of the case.
The prosecution then called its witness Mr Kennet Babajia an Exhibit Officer with NDLEA to the witness box to give his testimony.
After the review of the case , Osaigbovo asked the court to convict the defendant as charged based on his guilty plea and the uncontroverted evidence adduced by the prosecution.
Justice Kala then convicted the defendant.
Following the conviction, counsel to the defendant Ms Mimido Nyeve in her allocutus on behalf of the defendant plea for mercy , she said the defendant who is a father of four is remorseful and has regretted his action.
Nyeve also urged the court to grant an option of fine as an alternative to custodian sentence.
Justice Kala while delivering his judgement, sentence Salami Abideen Jide to three years imprisonment on each of the two counts or in the alternative N3,000,000 on each of the counts. The judge further held that while the term of imprisonment is to run concurrently, the option of N3,000,000 on each counts should be cumulative.
The charge against the defendant reads:
CHARGE 1
That you Salami Abideen Jide, Male, Adult on or about the 9th day of September 2026 at the Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Import Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja – Lagos procured one Ebenezer Bayode, a freight forwarding agent of Maykar Ventures to import 32.20kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 21 (2) (d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 11() of the said Act.
Count 2
That you Salami Abideen Jide, Male, Adult, on or about the 9th day of September 2026 at the Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Export Shed, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja – Lagos without lawful authority imported 32.20kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and you thereby committed an act which is an offence contrary to section 20 (1) (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
About The Author
