A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Monday sentenced a woman, Kafayat Taofeek, to one year imprisonment for trafficking 6.3 kg of marijuana.
Delivering judgement, Justice Uche Agomoh, held that she convicted Taofeek based on the evidence tendered by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as well as the confessional statements of the convict.
“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convict truly committed the crime.
“However, the record before the court indicates that the convict is a first time offender and has not wasted taxpayers’ money before pleading guilty.
“I hope that she is truly remorseful of her actions as she has shown so far.
“To serve as a deterrent to other criminals, Taofeek is sentenced to one year in prison and the sentence starts from the date she was first arrested,” the judge said.
Justice Agomoh ordered the NDLEA to destroy the weed exhibit found in her possession.
The defence counsel, J. Morakinyo, had before the judgement pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.
Earlier, counsel to the NDLEA, Oyo State Command, A.A. Balogun told the court that 22-year-old Ms Taofeek was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on unlawful dealing in Narcotic.
Shedding more light on the matter, Mr Balogun said that the agency’s operatives apprehended Ms Taofeek on January 27, in a bus with reg. no. LAG839EPY along Lagos-Ibadan expressway in possession of a bag concealed with 6.3 kg of cannabis.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11 (C ) of the Ndlea Act Cap N30 Law of the federation of Nigeria 2004. (NAN)