Remands UK returnee for allegedly smuggling Loud into Nigeria
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced one Lateef Sunday Oladipupo, to three years imprisonment for drug trafficking.
Oladipupo was however given an option of N5 million fine for trafficking in 517 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa, a.k.a. marijuana.
He was convicted and sentenced after he pleaded guilty to a count charge of unlawful transportation of the prohibited drug.
The prosecutor, Mariam Erondu told the court that the convict was arrested with the drug on October 5, 2024, at Customs Check Point, Church Gate, Mile 2- Badagry Expressway, Badagry Local Council of Lagos State.
The prosecutor told the court that the convict concealed the drugs in a yellow Mazda bus with Registration No. JGB 736 XB Ogun State.
She said that the convict contravened section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The convict admitted to have committed the illegal act, and pleaded guilty to the charge.
Upon the convict’s guilty plea, the prosecutor after tendering exhibits in the charge, urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with the NDLEA Act he was charged with.
However, the defence counsel in his allucutor, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.
He also urged the court to consider the timely guilty plea of his client, as a sign of remorsefulness and to grant him a non-custodian sentence.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa in his judgment, sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment, but ordered him to pay a fine option of N5 million in lieu of the jail-term.
Relatedly, Justice Ayounle Faji of same court has remanded a United Kingdom returnee, Olu Marshall, in the Correctional Centre, for allegedly importing 700 grammes of Canada Loud, a special species of Cannabis sativa into the country.
The UK returnee was remanded following his not guilty plea to a two count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the said banned substance.
The defendant, according to the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, was arrested with the banned weed on November 5, 2024, at the Skyway Handling Company (SAHCO) Ikeja-Lagos, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
He was alleged to have conspired with one Potter, who is said to be at large.
The defendant’s illegal acts, the prosecutor said, is contrary to sections 14(b) and 20(1)(a) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Marshall, had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date.
He also urged the court to remand him, pending the determination of the charge.
But the defendant’s counsel, Jude Ehiedu, told the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and same has been served on the prosecutor.
Responding, the prosecutor, while admitting being served with the bail application on November 9, however, stated that he intended to respond to the application.
Based on the party’s submissions, Justice Faji adjourned to March 12 and 13, 2025, for trial.
The judge, while ordering that the defendant be remanded till trial date, however, directed parties to approach the vacation judge, for the hearing and determination of the defendant’s bail application.
Read the full article here
