A 76-year-old grandpa, Mr Francis Omofe, has been sentenced to a 40-year jail term for drug-related offences.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that the prosecution had been able to prove the two-count charge preferred against Omofe beyond reasonable doubt.
“Consequently, he is hereby convicted as charged,” he ruled.
Justice Omotosho held that despite the plea for mercy, a punishment must be imposed to serve as a deterrent in national interest.
The judge held that he took judicial notice that the defendant’s action of transporting huge and commercial quantity of cannabis sativa with a vehicle, using police number plate to northern region, particularly Kaduna State, where terrorists and bandits had killed a number of innocents Nigerians under the influence of such substance, was unacceptable.
The judge, therefore, sentenced Omofe to a 15 year-imprisonment in count one without option of fine.
Considering the defendant’s age, Justice Omotosho reduced the life imprisonment for count two to 25 years jail term, without option of fine.
The judge also ordered that the sentencing shall run concurrently from June 18, 2024, the date of his arrest, making a total of 25 years imprisonment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/286/2024, named Omofe as sole defendant.
The septuagenarian was said to have been arrested in Abuja on June 18, 2024, in a Nissan Frontier Vehicle with police force number plate: NPF 558D, while transporting the substance from Edo to Kaduna State.
In count one, Mr Omofe of Goni Gora, Kaduna State was accused of possessing 340.8 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, a narcotic substance on or about June 18, 2024, along Kuje Road in Abuja.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The NDLEA, in count two, accused him of transporting 340.38 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, a narcotic substance in a Nissan Frontier, with Registration No: NPF 558D on or about June 18, 2024, along Kuje Road in Abuja.
The prosecution said the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 11(p) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.