A 38-year-old dealer in cannabis sativa, also known as Indian hemp, Yinka Adegboye, was on Wednesday jailed 17 months by a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Delivering judgment, Justice Uche Agomoh held that she convicted and sentenced Adegboye based on the evidence before her as well as the plea of guilt entered by the convict.
Agomoh said: “This judgment takes into consideration Adegboye’s prayer that the court should temper justice with mercy in sentencing him.
“I also observe from the submission of the defence counsel that the convict is remorseful of his action and willing to change for better.
“Also, he is a first time offender.
“Let me say that being remorseful is not enough, but Adegboye must truly turn a new leaf, otherwise, he might not be lucky if arraigned again for any crime.
“However, to serve as deterrent to others dreaming of dealing in narcotics, Adegboye is sentenced to 17 months in prison.
“The sentence starts from the date he was first arrested.
“The exhibit found in possession of the convict shall be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.”
E.O. Ayoola, the defence counsel, had pleaded with the court to be lenient in sentencing his client.
Earlier, counsel to the NDLEA, Oyo State Command, Raphael Himinkaiye, had told the court that the convict was arraigned on a one count charge bordering on unlawful dealing in Indian hemp.
Himinkaiye added the convict was arrested on July 8, 2021 at 12pm in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to the prosecutor, the NDLEA operatives received intelligence reports that Adegboye was in possession of a sack containing 4kg of the illicit substance.
Himinkaiye said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11 (C) of the NDLEA Act Cap n30 Laws of the Federation 2004.
