Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state, Wednesday sentenced a 25-year-old man, Makinde Gbolahan, for illegal possession of 11kg hemp, otherwise known as cannabis sativa.
The prosecutor, Ogaga Azugo, said the convict was arrested by the operatives of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on April 11, 2017 at Gbongan in Ayedaade local government area of Osun state.
He said the offence contravened the provision of section 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Though, the convict claimed to be a Vulcanizer and farmer, his wife, Rukayat Makinde, said he is a palm wine tapper.
When asked by the court, wife of the convict confessed that her husband had been arrested and he stopped the hemp business before he later returned to it.
Justice Lifu thereby agreed that the prosecutor has proved the case against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.
The court held that Gbolahan has been selling the hemp for nine years, and must be punished for his refusal to change.
His counsel, Ronke Awowole, urged the court to be merciful with him, saying “if given another chance, he will change for good.”
However, Justice Lifu sentenced Gbolahan to two years imprisonment, counting from January 1, 2021.
