The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday convicted three men for unlawfully dealing in a total of 160 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the verdicts in two separate cases prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In the first case, a 25-year-old university graduate, Faruk Mumuni, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N5m for trafficking 149 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa.
Mumuni was arrested on August 13, 2025, at Mushin, Lagos State, and charged under Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the case was called, the NDLEA prosecution counsel, Buhari Abdulahi, presented the charge, which Mumuni pleaded guilty to. Abdulahi tendered exhibits in court and urged conviction on the strength of his plea and evidence.
Justice Dipeolu found him guilty as charged.
His lawyer, E.U. Okenyi, pleaded for leniency, stating:
“My Lord, the convict did not waste the time of this honourable court. He is deeply remorseful and pleads for the mercy of the court. We urge Your Lordship to temper justice with mercy and consider a non-custodial sentence with an option of fine.”
The judge sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest, with an option of a N5m fine.
In a related case, two other men, Abubakar Sadiq (25) and Isah Ibrahim (27), were also convicted after pleading guilty to trafficking 11 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa.
The prosecution, led by Abdulahi, presented exhibits to support the case. Their lawyer, Evans Ajoku, appealed for mercy, saying:
“My Lord, the defendants are young men who have shown remorse and pleaded guilty without hesitation. They pray for the court’s mercy.”
Justice Dipeolu sentenced each to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 on the first count. Sadiq received an additional six months’ jail term or a fine of N600,000 on the second count.
The offences occurred on July 3, 2025, at Alabarago, Lagos State, in violation of Sections 11(c) and 14(b) of the NDLEA Act.
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