A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Tuesday, sentenced a 26-year-old lawyer, Yetunde Sulaimon, to five years imprisonment, for drug trafficking.
Justice Daniel Osiagor handed down the sentence to the accused, who studied law from one of the Benin Republic universities, after she pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and unlawful export of 1.10 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.
Earlier, when the accused lawyer was arraigned, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, had told the court that the defendant, who resided around Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos, was arrested on July 18, 2022 at Export Shed of National Handling Company Limited, a Customs area/point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, when she attempted to export the banned weed.
Abu also informed the court that the defendant involved one Benjamin Joel to commit the illegal act.
According to him, the offence committed contravened sections 21 (2)(d) and 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under 11 (b) of the same Act.
The charges against the lawyer read: “That you, Sulaimon Yetunde, female, adult of No. 28, Fehintola Giwa Street, Aguda – Surulere, Lagos State, on or about July 18, 2022 at Export Shed of National Handling Company Limited, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, procured one Benjamin Joel to export 1.10 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, LSD, heroin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (2)(d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under 11 (b) of the same Act.
“That you, Sulaimon Yetunde, female, adult of No. 28, Fehintola Giwa Street, Aguda – Surulere, Lagos State on or about July 18, 2022 at Export Shed of National Handling Company Limited, a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos without lawful authority, exported 1.10 kilograms 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 Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The lawyer pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against her.
Following her plea, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence her in accordance with the sections of the law she was charged with.
However, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Benson Ndakara, prayed the court be lenient with sentencing his client, putting into consideration that the she was a first time offender, who has become remorseful of her actions and promised never to engage in such act again.
Justice Osiagor after listening to the submissions of both counsel sentenced her to five years imprisonment.
The judge, also ordered the defendant to pay the sum of N100,000 as an option in lieu of the jail term, adding that all the exhibits recovered from her and tendered by the prosecution before the court be destroyed if there was no appeal against the judgment within the stipulated period by the law.
