Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Monday sentenced two drug peddlers– Rasak Babatunde, 21 and Sikiru Musa, 25– to 17 months imprisonment for peddling 116.6 kilogrammes of Indian hemp.
In two separate judgments, Ajoku said that Babatunde and Musa were sentenced based on the evidence against them and the guilty plea entered by the convicts.
He said: “I have considered the prayer to temper justice with mercy presented before me by the defense counsel and I am hopeful that the convicts are truly remorseful of their action.
“However, to serve as deterrent to others, Babatunde is sentenced to three months in prison, while Musa is sentenced to 14 months in prison.
“However, the sentences start from the dates on which the convicts were first arrested.
“The motorcycle which was found in possession of Musa is hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“All the weed substances are to be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.’’
Earlier, Mr Musbau Olapade, the defence counsel had in separate prayers pleaded with the court to be lenient in sentencing his clients.
Olapade said that Musa and Babatunde could still make meaningful and positive contributions to the society.
Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, the counsel to the NDLEA in Oyo State, had told the court that the duo were arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful transportation and dealing in Indian hemp.
Himinkaiye said that Babatunde and Musa committed the crime on April 10 and Dec. 6, 2018 in Ibadan and Igboora respectively.
He said that Babatunde was apprehended with 1.4 kg, while Musa was caught transporting 115.2 kg of Indian hemp.
The prosecutor also said that Musa was caught using a Boxer motorcycle to transport the illicit substance.
According to him, the offences contravened Sections 11 (B ) and (C ) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.