For Dealing In Marijuana Induced Herbal Drink, Court Jails Mali National

For having a herbal drink laced with Cannabis Sativa, popularly called Marijuana, a citizen of Mali, Mohammed Dambele, was yesterday convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

He was sent to jail by Justice Tijjani Ringim of a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, after pleading guilty to a count amended charge.

According to the prosecutor, Paul Awogbuyi, the convict was arrested on September 27, 2022, at Ebute-ero jetty, Lagos Island, Lagos, with 400 bottles of Al Hil Herbal Mixture, popularly known as “akuskura”.

Awogbuyi informed the judge that the said herbal mixture was laced with Cannabis Sativa also known as Marijuana, which he said was a prohibited substance, that he attempted to export to his country, Mali.

He insisted that the offence committed contravened Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, and was punishable under the same Act.

The convict pleaded guilty to the offence when the charge was read to him.

As a result of his guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge and urged the court to convict and sentence him in accordance with Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.

However, the lawyer to the Malian, Mr G. O. Okaka, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict, saying that his client never knew that the product is prohibited since it has the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approval number.

After entertaining counsel’s submissions, the judge sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment.

Justice Ringim however held that the convict’s jail term commences on September 27, 2022, when he was arrested.

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