Court Convicts Freight Forwarder For Unlawful Exportation Of Indian Hemp
A freight forwarder, Ogunbowale Tunde, was on Monday convicted for unlawful exportation of 600 grams of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana and Indian hemp, by a Lagos Federal High Court.
Justice Yelim Bogoro, convicted the freight forwarder after he pleaded guilty to a count charge of the offence.
The prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, had earlier arraigned the convict before the court on a count charge.
During the arraignment, Abu told the court that the freight forwarder was arrested with the banned substance, on March 15, 2023, at Skyway Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) Export Shed, a custom area/point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He told the court that the convict had intended to unlawfully export the substance to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He told the court that the offence committed by the freight agent contravened section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The freight agent had pleaded guilty to the charge when he was first arraigned. Consequently, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge and as well tendered several exhibits, which were admitted and the court adjourned till today for Judgment.
At the resumed hearing of the charge, the convict, who was represented by Chief (Mrs.) Lillian Omotunde, I’m his allucutor, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him.
He also promised the court not to involve in crimes if given a second chance.
Justice Bogoro, after listening to the plea for leniency, sentenced the convict to a year imprisonment.
The judge however gave him a fine option of N400, 000, 00, with three weeks of community service.
The charge against the convicted Freight Agent reads: “That you Ogunbowale Tunde, adult, male on or about the 15th March 2023 Skyway Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) Export Shed, a custom area/point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos during the outward clearance of cargoes to Dubai, United Arab Emirates without lawful authority exported 600grams of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”