|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
Nigeria: Cannabis dealer gets life Patience Ogbo Daily Times NG Monday 02 Jul 2012 Justice Bature Gafair of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, has sentenced a cannabis dealer to life imprisonment. A release signed by the Head, Public Affairs of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ofoyeju Mitchell, stated that the judgement was coincidental with this year's commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking. The convict, Saje Askira, 42, was the first person to get a life sentence for drug trafficking in the state. Justice Gafair said the convict had a pending case which was connected to drug trafficking before his re-arrest. He said it was obvious that Askira had not learnt any lesson and did not feel sorry for his actions. "It will be difficult for him to be of good conduct because while on bail he was caught selling cannabis. There isn't enough evidence to prove his innocence. He is therefore found guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment," he said. Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA Chairman, commended the Judge for taking a bold step towards reducing the problem of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country. "This judgment is a welcome development. It is in line with our thinking that a desperate malady certainly deserves a desperate solution. This section of the law is a pointer to the adequacy of the law. It will surely serve as a lesson to others," Giade stated. The Agency’s Borno State Commander, Ona Ogilegwu, said the ruling will transform the operational activities of the command. "No doubt, this ruling will change the face of our operations in the State. People will also begin to appreciate the fact that cannabis carries a serious penalty in line with the NDLEA Act," he said. "This convict is a notorious cannabis dealer who was first caught in 2005 with 3.7kg of cannabis. While he was on bail, he was re-arrested in 2007 with 1.7kg of cannabis. So, this is good news to us in the Agency because it is the first time in the State that a drug convict will get a life sentence. "According to the Agency, section11 C of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 laws of the federation 2004, states that "anybody who sells, buys, exposes or offers for sale or otherwise deals in or with the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life." http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/cannabis-dealer-gets-life-sentence
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!