A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has sentenced a man, Muphy Afolabi, to two years’ imprisonment for trafficking 360 grammes of Cannabis Sativa and eight grammes of Tramadol.
Justice Nkeonye Maha, who delivered the judgment, said the conviction and sentence were based on Afolabi’s guilty plea and the weight of evidence presented by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In her ruling, Justice Maha stated, “Afolabi is hereby sentenced to one year imprisonment for count one and one year imprisonment for count two. However, sentencing shall run concurrently from the date he was first arrested.”
The judge also noted the plea for leniency made by the defence counsel, Mr Musbau Olapade, and advised the convict to shun crime after completing his jail term.
“I took into consideration the prayer of the defence counsel that the court should temper justice with mercy. Afolabi should steer clear of crime after this sentence; he might not be so lucky if he is arrested again,” she warned.
Earlier, Olapade had pleaded with the court to consider the plight of Afolabi’s dependants when passing sentence.
“He has two children, a wife and an aged mother who would suffer greatly if a heavy sentence is imposed,” Olapade said.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Daniel Otunla, told the court that the convict was arrested on November 1, 2024, at Sanyo, Ibadan, in possession of two bags—one containing cannabis and the other, tramadol, a psychotropic substance.
Otunla said the offences contravened Section 11 (C) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
