NAN-H-113
Sentence
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Nov. 15, 2016 (NAN) A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 42-year-old farmer, Samuel Ukpe, to 18 years imprisonment for drug peddling.
Justice Muhammed did not give the farmer an option of fine.
he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had arraigned Ukpe on Nov. 7 on a three-count charge.
Ukpe had pleaded guilty, while the judge adjourned the case for review of facts and sentencing.
On Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, tendered before the court, a written statement of Ukpe, a request for scientific aid form and a drug analysis form.
He also tendered, a forensic analysis result, as well as the bulk of the drugs, and urged the court to admit and mark them as exhibits to prove his case.
Idris admitted them in evidence, and consequently convicted the farmer, who pleaded for leniency and pledged to repent.
Idris held: “I have taken a look at the evidence tendered by prosecution, as well as the plea of the accused; he is found guilty as charged and is hereby convicted.
“The convict is accordingly sentenced to a term of eight years imprisonment each on counts one and two, and he is sentenced to two years imprisonment on count three.”
The judge also ordered that the drug exhibit should be destroyed by the NDLEA.
In the charge sheet, the prosecution atated that the farmer committed the offences on Aug. 26.
It said that Ukpe was arrested at the railway area of Apapa in Lagos with about 0.5g of cocaine, 1.4g of heroin as well as 9.8g of Cannabis Sativa.
According to the prosecution, the farmer sells the banned substances, and was arrested following a tipoff.
The NDLEA stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (a) and (c) of the NDLEA Act, 2004. (NAN)
UNS/IGO
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(Edited by Ijeoma Popoola)