31-year-old jailed bricklayer sells cannabis in prison

The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a bricklayer, Rasheed Bolaji, who sold cannabis sativa, in Ikoyi Custodial Centre to two years imprisonment

Justice Abimbola Awogboro sentenced the 31-year-old convict after finding him guilty of two-count of trafficking and unlawful dealing in 5.3 kg of Indian hemp, brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

The judge handed down the jail term on Friday after the bricklayer pleaded guilty to the charges when he was arraigned.

Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor, M. I. Erondu, while reviewing the facts of the charges, told the court that the convict was arrested with the banned substance on December 2, 2022, at Ikoyi Centre of the Correctional Service, Lagos, while he was selling it.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed was contrary to and punishable under Sections 11(b) and 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act Cap N 30 LFN 2004.

She urged the court to sentence the convict according to Sections 274(2) and 375 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Meanwhile, the convict begged the court for mercy, promising not to engage in any crime if given a second chance.

The convict’s lawyer, Bolanle Kolawole, told the court that her client was a bricklayer, who ‘smoked’ the Indian hemp for energy while working.

She pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing him and also begged the court to award an option of a fine instead of a custodian sentence.

Justice Awogboro, in her judgment, sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

In a similar development, a father of five, Olusesi Yusuf, was also sentenced to 600 hours of community service, by Justice Awogboro, for illegal dealing and possession of some banned substances.

41-year-old Yusuf, according to the prosecutor, Erondu, was arrested on March 6, 2023, at Felix Ogaga Close, Aso Oke, Ajah Lagos State, where he was selling the banned substances.

The banned drugs found on the convict when he was arrested include 15.5 grams of cocaine; 14 grams of Indian hemp, and a total of 14 grams of Swinol, a psychotropic substance.

The convict, who is an air conditioner repairer, admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty to the charges.

Following the convict’s plea, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence him, having pleaded guilty to the charges.

Justice Awogboro in her judgment sentenced the convict to 600-hour community service.