Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday discharged a female drug offender, Isoken Arigbe, on compassionate grounds due to serious health concerns. Arigbe had earlier pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of 66 grams of methamphetamine.
She was arrested on May 23, 2025, at Lekki Gardens Phase 2 Junction, Ajah, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
During the hearing, NDLEA prosecutor, A.G. Yuanyuam, informed the court that Arigbe was ready for arraignment and presented the charge against her.
He stated that the accused was found in possession of methamphetamine, a drug classified alongside cocaine, heroin, and LSD without lawful authority. The offense contravened Section 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).
Arigbe pleaded guilty to the one-count charge, after which the prosecution reviewed the case, presented evidence, and urged the court to convict her under Section 356(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Justice Osiagor convicted her accordingly.
Following the conviction, the NDLEA requested the final forfeiture of ₦534,569.16 found in Arigbe’s bank accounts, alleging it was proceeds of her criminal activity.
The judge granted the request, ordering the funds forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In his plea for leniency, Arigbe’s lawyer, C.J. Robert (from the chambers of Uche Okoronkwo), highlighted that she was a first-time offender who had shown genuine remorse and cooperated with authorities from the onset.
Robert further submitted medical records from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), revealing Arigbe suffered from multiple serious health issues, including abdominal complications and an enlarged heart.
Considering her critical health condition, Justice Osiagor opted against a custodial sentence. Instead, he cautioned and discharged her, strongly advising Arigbe to avoid future offenses and to focus on her recovery.
The court reaffirmed the forfeiture of the ₦534,569.16 to the federal government.
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