A 52-year-old woman, Yemisi Ajeboriogbon, has been jailed for three years for illegally dealing in Indian hemp.
Ajeboriogbon’s sentence was handed over to her by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, gave the convict an option to pay N500,000 fine in lieu of imprisonment.
Ajeboriogbon had earlier pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of illegally dealing in Indian hemp levelled against her.
According to the charge sheet, Ajeboriogbon committed the offence on Dec. 18, 2023 in the Agege area of Lagos, where she was said to have engaged in unlawful dealing in 10kg of Indian hemp.
The offence contravened the provisions of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Law of the Federation (2004).
After Ajeboriogbon’s plea was taken, state prosecuting counsel, Mrs N.J Mamza reviewed the facts of the case before the court and tendered many exhibits.
Some of the exhibits were Ajeboriogbon’s statement, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form and the Indian hemp seized from the accused.
Mamza urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant based on evidences adduced by the prosecution and the plea entered by the defendant.
Justice Osiagor consequently convicted Ajeboriogbon and sentenced her to three years imprisonment with an option of fine of N500,000.
In another news, two men, Marcus Olaitan and Ajibade Adeolu, were on Monday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing over N2 million from a First bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
Olaitan, 43, and Adeolu, 30, both POS operators who reside in Ketu, Lagos, are being tried for conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the offences were committed on Sept. 4, 2023, from a First Bank PLC ATM, on CMD Road, Magodo-Shangisha, Lagos.
Akeem said that the complainant, Mrs Wuraola Odeniyi, went to the ATM to withdraw money and met a man, who appeared to be one of the security men of the bank.
The prosecutor added that the man, who is currently at large, offered to help the complainant, and unknown to her, he had memorized her Personal Identification Number (PIN).
“Later that day, the woman received a N2.517 million debit alert,” he said.
Akeem said that when the complainant went to the bank to complain, CCTV footage was played and the man she met at the ATM kiosk was seen reciting the numbers on her card.
The prosecutor said that the police were able to trace the POS operators who transferred the money.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted them bail of N200,000 each with two sureties in like sum.
Osunsanmi adjourned the case until March 18 for mention.