Tuesday, October 29, 2024 –A Federal High Court in
Lagos has convicted and sentenced five women to two years in prison each for
illegally importing 6.96 kilograms of “Ghana loud,” a potent strain of cannabis
sativa, commonly known as marijuana.
The
convicted women are Basirat Olarigbibe (also known as Basirat Feyisara
Olaribigbe), Fatima Garuba (aka Fatima Ladidi Abogun), Amudalat Adekunle (aka
Amudalat Ajetunmobi), Oloye Arafat Awele (aka Akanni Balikis Oluwatoyin), and
Ademola Bola (also known as Tolulope Oluwaseun Osibeluwo or Tolulope Ademola).
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke convicted and
sentenced the women on Monday, October28, 2024, after they all pleaded guilty
to six counts of conspiracy and unlawful importation, charges brought by the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency against them.
Earlier, the NDLEA’s prosecution counsel,
Andover G. Yuanyam, told the court that the women were apprehended on August
21, 2024, at the Seme Border in Badagry Local Government Area, of Lagos State.
Yuanyam informed the court that Olarigbibe was
found in possession of 1.54 kilograms of the substance, while Garuba and
Adekunle had 1.47 kilograms and 1.52 kilograms, respectively.
He also told the court that Awele and Bola were
also caught with 1.53 kilograms and 900 grams.
According to the prosecutor, the offences
committed contravened Sections 14 and 11(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of
the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).
After the women pleaded guilty to the charges,
the prosecutor presented the facts of the case and urged the court to impose a
sentence based on the guilty plea and evidence.
But the defence lawyer, Oke Ojakovo, prayed the
court for leniency, noting that all five women were first-time offenders and
did not delay court proceedings.
He highlighted that two of the women are widows
solely responsible for their families, and requested either a non-custodial
sentence or a fine.
After confirming their first-time status,
Justice Aneke sentenced each woman to two years in prison, with the sentences
to run concurrently.
However, he gave them an option of N500,000 fine and 100 hours of community service in lieu of imprisonment.
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