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A 20-year-old boy, Abiodun Oyatolu, who had pleaded guilty to
trafficking in 9.9 grammes of heroin in Lagos, is to cool his heels in prison
for the next 18 months, a Federal High Court ruled on Wednesday.
Justice Abdulazeez Anka, who handed down the verdict, said the
drug trafficker was guilty as charged.
The accused had admitted guilt of the offence of trafficking in
hard drug preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA).
The judge, however, said the sentence should begin from the date
of judgment and ordered the exhibits to be destroyed if there was no subsisting
appeal.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Jeremiah Aernan, had tendered as evidence
before the court a written statement of the accused, a request for scientific
aid form, a drug analysis certificate, as well as remnant of the analysed
substance which were admitted as exhibits.
Shortly before the sentence, the accused had begged the court to
temper justice with mercy, saying “it is the work of the devil, I promise to
turn a new leaf.”
The accused committed the offence on Jan. 20 at Ipodo, the heart
of Ikeja, Lagos State capital.
He was arrested with 9.9 grammes of heroin, a narcotic similar to
cocaine and other psychotropic substances.
It was analysed in the laboratory by the NDLEA and was confirmed
as heroin, the prosecutor said.
The offence contravened Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of
the Federation, 2004.
Credit:ShipsandPorts
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