Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Lagos Federal High Court Tuesday sentenced Taiwo Olusegun Anuoluwapo, to five years imprisonment, for smuggling 23.3 Kilograms of a synthetic strain of Cannabis Sativa, popularly called Canada Loud, into the country in loudspeakers.
The convict was arraigned before the court last week Tuesday, alongside a freight forwarder, Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega, on three count-charge of conspiracy, and unlawful possession of the said banned substance.
During their arraignment, the convict admitted to committing the offences, while the freight forwarder denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
With their pleas, Justice Aluko adjourned till today, for a review of the facts, and hearing of the bail application of the freight agent.
At the resumed hearing of the charge today, the prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the convict was arrested on February 17, 2024, at the Allen Avenue area of Ikeja, Lagos.
The prosecutor told the court that the convict conspired with the dou of one ‘Pappy’ based in the United States of America and KIM with telephone number +19296691076 based in Canada to commit the offences.
The prosecutor also led one of the NDLEA’s operatives, to tender both the bulk of the seized drug, samples taken to a laboratory to confirm its authenticity, and the convict’s confessional statements, which were admitted by the court.
Following the admission of the exhibits, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convict by the sections of the NDLEA Acts he was charged with.
But his lawyer, Dennis Warri, in his allucutor, told the court that the convict, is a first-time convict, without a previous conviction record. Adding that he had learned his lesson, and also confined in him not to go back to crime.
The lawyer, who described the convict as a ‘young man’ and a graduate who allowed himself to be used for the ‘mess’, also prayed the court to give him a second chance.
The lawyer, while citing plethoras of authorities, also urged the court to be merciful with the convict and to consider a non-custodial sentence instead of terms of imprisonment.
Prosecutor, Mr. Ibrahim, confirmed to the court that the convict has no evidence of previous conviction known to the prosecution.
He also urged the court to return the NDLEA exhibits, as they will be used for the prosecution of the first defendant (the freight agent).
Justice Aluko in his judgment, sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment.
The judge however ordered the convict to pay the sum of N1.5 million, instead of the jail term.
Meanwhile, the freight agent, Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega, who pleaded not guilty to the charges has been admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum.
He was given the bail sum, after his lawyer, Henry Orarotimi, moved his bail application before the court today.
The judge also ordered that the surety could be a Civil servant on Grade Level 14 and above, or an owner of a plot of land with necessary documents within the court’s jurisdiction. Adding that the surety must have a permanent residence in Lagos with affidavit of mean.
The judge has adjourned to June 13, for the freight agent’s trial.
