A 76-year-old grandfather, Francis Omofe, has been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for drug-related offences.
Justice James Omotosho said the prosecution proved the two-count charge preferred against the grandfather beyond reasonable doubt.
“Consequently, he is hereby convicted as charged,” he ruled.
Justice Omotosho held that in spite of the plea for mercy, a punishment must be imposed to serve as a deterrent in national interest.
The judge said the defendant’s action of transporting huge and commercial quantities of cannabis with a vehicle, using a police number plate to the northern region, particularly Kaduna State, where terrorists and bandits had killed a number of innocent Nigerians under the influence of such a 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 an 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 State to Kaduna State.
In count one, 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.
