Crime

Court jailed professor’s son for dealing in hard drug

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced one Oluseyi Oladapo to two months ‘suspended imprisonment’, for unlawful dealing and production of hard drugs.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo who presided over court gave the verdict after the convict changed his plea, on the charges made against him by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The 41 years old convict, also called Dayo, who is a son of a Nigerian Professor father and a Dane mother, was brought before the court on September 4, 2020, by the NDLEA on four counts charge of conspiracy, illegal cultivation and dealing in hard drugs, and unlawful possession of the said banned substance.

The prosecution had told the court the offences are contrary to the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 and its Protocols and the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1989, (as contained in the Second Schedule of the NDLEA ACT, 2004). And Sections 20(1) (3), 11(3) 19 and 20(1)(e) and punishable under Sections 20(2)(a) 11(3), of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

When he was arraigned on September 4, 2020, Oladapo pleaded not guilty to the charges and he was admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum, who must also be a landed property owner with the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Oweibo also ordered him to deposit his international passport with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) adjourned the matter till Friday, for trial on the allegations.

However, at the resumed trial of the charges against him on, the convicted opted to change his plea, which was granted by the presiding court.

Following his change of plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Abubakar Bashir, reviewed the facts of the case, while also tendered some exhibits, which were admitted by the court. Mr. Bashir, asked the court to convict and sentence him according to section 20(2)(a) 11(3), of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

In response, the convict’s lawyer,  Oluwaseun Coker, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client, on the ground that his client is a first time offender, who has no record of previous criminal record, adding that he did not waste the precious time of the court.

In his judgment, Justice Oweibo, conceded to the convict’s counsel’s request, and sentenced him to two months imprisonment on each counts. The judge also ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

Justice Oweibo, also converted the convict’s custodian sentence to ‘suspended sentence’, following an application made by his counsel, which was not opposed by the prosecutor.

The judge however ordered that the sum of N490, 000, 00, a Toyota Hilux pickup, a Toyota Camry, laboratory equipments and its paraphernalia, be forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria, adding that the convict’s international passport be released to him at the completion of his sentence.

During his arrest at his residence on 7, Imam Augusto close, Victoria Island, lagos, on May 18, 2020, the following items which include: 1.127 kilograms of Cannabis cream; 83 grams of Hashish Oil: 123mg THC-70mg CBD and 21kg of Cannabis-infused Ethanol were recovered.

editor

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