Tempering justice with mercy, judge sentences drug trafficker to 9 months

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, sentenced a 35-year-old Scavenger, Aliyu Muktar, to nine months imprisonment, for peddling 100g of Cannabis Sativa.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro, while delivering judgment, said “I have seen the open confession of the defendant and the remorse shown.

“I find and hold that I should exercise my discretion and not impose the maximum punishment.’’

The convict was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on one count of drug trafficking,

Muktar was arraigned on Nov. 11, and had pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court had accordingly adjourned the case for a review of facts and sentencing.

When the case was called on Monday, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, tendered evidences before the court to establish the case of prosecution.

Some of the documents include, certificate of test analysis, packing of substance form, request for scientific aid form, drug analysis report, large sealed envelope, statement of the convict, as well as bulk of the substance.

The court admitted and marked the evidence as exhibits A to G respectively.

Before sentencing the convict, Justice Awogboro asked the convict about his marital status as well as his job.

In response, Muktar told the court that he was married and deals on scrap or condemned iron, adding that he had been in Lagos for two years.

Besides, he told the court that the said substance did not belong to him but was given to him by his boss.

He begged the court to show mercy on him as he had no past criminal records

The court consequently, sentenced the convict to nine months imprisonment to begin from the date of his arrest.

The court ordered that the narcotics substances be forfeited to the Federal Government by destroying same.

According to the charge, the convict committed the offences on Oct. 25.

The prosecutor said that the convict was arrested on a tip off at Sabo in Ikorodu, while illegally trafficking the narcotic.

According to the NDLEA, cannabis is a narcotic just like Cocaine and Heroin, and trafficking same offends the provisions of Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, CAP N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.