Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a clearing agent, Olisaemeka Okoli, to three years imprisonment for the unlawful importation of 610.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis indica, a prohibited narcotic substance.
Okoli was arraigned before the court last Thursday on a one-count charge bordering on the unlawful importation of the illicit drug.
According to the charge, the defendant allegedly imported 610.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis indica on April 30, 2026, through the Hanover Warehouse at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, without lawful authority.
The prosecution alleged that the narcotic substance was concealed inside three Toyota Sienna vehicles bearing Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) 5TDZA29C465388871, 5TDZA23C545189933 and 5TDZA23C255251399, which were transported in a container marked HLBU3119600.
The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following the guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Adekunle Adebajo, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several exhibits before the court.
The prosecutor subsequently urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. He also prayed the court to order the forfeiture of the three vehicles allegedly used to conceal and transport the prohibited substance.
In his allocutus, defence counsel pleaded for leniency, arguing that the convict was a victim of circumstances and deserving of the court’s mercy.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Kakaki held that the prosecution had established its case and that the defendant’s guilty plea amounted to an admission of the offence.
After considering the submissions of counsel and relevant legal authorities, the court sentenced Okoli to three years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
In addition to the custodial sentence, Justice Kakaki ordered the forfeiture of the three Toyota Sienna vehicles used in the commission of the offence to the Federal Government. The vehicles bear Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) 5TDZA29C465388871, 5TDZA23C545189933 and 5TDZA23C255251399.
The Guardian
