Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday, sentenced five men to 40 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of Indian hemp.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the all-male convicts are, Shefiu Zakariawu, Olusola Adigun, Tajudeen Ibrahim, Olaide Ogini and Seun Bamidele.
Abdulmaleek, in her five separate judgments, held that the convictions of the men were based on the evidence given against them.
“To serve as a deterrent to others, each of the convicts is sentenced based on the gravity of his offence,” she said.
Zakariawu was, thereafter, sentenced to four months while Adigun was sentenced to six months.
Ibrahim, Ogini and Bamdele got 10 months, eight months and one year in prison respectively.
The judge, however, pointed out that the jail terms would begin from the dates the convicts were arrested.
She also directed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to burn all the confiscated drugs.
Earlier, Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, counsel to the NDLEA, Oyo State Command, had informed the court that the men were facing a one-count charge; bordering on unlawful dealing in Indian hemp.
Himinkaiye added that the convicts were apprehended between May and June at different spots in Ibadan.
He said that while Zakariawu was found in possession of 300 grammes of Indian hemp, Adigun was arrested with a bag containing 730 grammes of the drug.
Ibrahim, Ogini and Bamidele were apprehended with 1kg, 1.5kg and 4.15kg of the drug respectively.
NAN reports that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (C) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation 2004.
Convicts are liable to a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. (NAN)
