Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 43-year-old trader, Abubakar Sulaiman, to seven years imprisonment for trafficking various banned substances.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa handed down the sentence with
an option of a N5m fine in lieu of a custodial sentence.
Sulaiman, who resides in Ikorodu, was convicted after
pleading guilty to seven-count charges filed by the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency.
The charges bordered on unlawful possession and dealing in
narcotic and psychotropic substances.
According to the NDLEA, the convict was found with large
quantities of illicit drugs, including Cannabis Sativa, Diazepam, Tramadol,
Codeine-based cough syrup, Rohypnol, Methamphetamine, and Molly (MDMA).
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr. B.S.
Abdullahi, informed the court of the pending charges and requested that they be
read to the convict.
According to the charge, Sulaiman was arrested on May 27,
2025, in Ikorodu, Lagos, for unlawfully dealing in several prohibited
substances, including Cannabis Sativa, Diazepam, Tramadol, Codeine-based cough
syrup, Rohypnol, Methamphetamine, and Molly
Upon reading, Sulaiman pleaded guilty to all counts
preferred against him by the NDLEA.
Following the plea, the prosecution, led by Abdullahi and
J.O. Negudu, reviewed the facts of the case. They tendered relevant documents,
including Sulaiman’s extrajudicial statement and the bulk of the seized
substances, as evidence.
While presenting the case, the NDLEA prosecutor Mr. B.S.
Abdullahi, said: “The convict was found in possession of multiple quantities of
banned narcotic and psychotropic substances, which were recovered from his
residence during a surveillance operation. The volume and variety of substances
recovered are alarming.”
He urged the court to convict Sulaiman. With no objection
from the defence, the court found him guilty on all counts.
“Sulaiman has admitted guilt, and we have presented
overwhelming evidence, including his extra-judicial statement and the exhibits
seized from him
“We ask the court to convict him in accordance with Section
274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act."
After the prosecution’s submission, defence counsel, Mr.
Augustin Nwagwu, made a passionate plea for leniency.
“My Lord, the convict is a first-time offender who did not
waste the time of this court. He has expressed deep remorse and has promised
never to return to a life of crime. We urge Your Lordship to temper justice
with mercy.”
In his judgment, Justice Lewis-Alagoa convicted Sulaiman on
all seven counts and imposed a sentence of seven years imprisonment with an
option of a N5m, fine.
“Having reviewed the facts and evidence presented by the
prosecution, and in view of Sulaiman’s voluntary plea of guilt, I hereby
convict and sentence the convict to seven years imprisonment or a fine of N5m,”
the judge ruled.
The judge also urged the convict to reflect on his choices
and make use of the second chance being offered through the fine option.
“This conviction should serve as a deterrent to others. The
abuse and sale of illicit drugs pose a grave threat to our society,” he added
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