Court Jails 3 Indian Hemp Dealers 17 Years For Unlawful Dealing In 78kg Of Marijuana
Three Indian hemp dealers were on Wednesday convicted and sentenced to total of 17 years imprisonment for illegal dealing in 78 kilograms of cannabis sativa popularly called marijuana, by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Aneke jailed the trio after their pleaded guilty to a count charge made against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
While Sulaiman Olabiyi was given a five year jail-term for unlawful dealing in 10.5 kilograms. Both Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa were given six year jail-term each for jointly dealing in 67.5 kilograms of the prohibited drug.
Arraigning the trio in the charges marked FHC/L/239c/26 and FH/L/270c/26, the prosecutor, M. I. Erondu, told the court that Sulaiman Olabiyi was arrested with the drug on March 5, 2026 at Ali Street Lagos Island, Lagos State.
She also told the court the the dou of Olumuyiwa and Samod were arrested on March 18 2025 at Mushin, with the prohibited weed.
The three men admitted committing the offences when the charge was read to them separately.
Following their plea of guilty, the prosecutor prayed the court to sentence them according to the section of NDLEA Act they were charged with.
But their lawyers, Chief Lilian Omotunde and Bolanle Kolawole, in their separate allocutor, pleaded with the court to be merciful with their clients, for being a first time convicts and no wasting the precious time of the court.
The lawyers also prayed the court to award a non-custodian sentence in lieu of the custodian sentence.
Justice Aneke in his judgment, sentenced Sulaiman Olabiyi to five years imprisonment, while he sentenced the duo of Olumuyiwa and Samod to six years imprisonment each.
The judge however ordered Sulaiman to pay the sum of N3.5 million, while ordered Olumuyiwa and Samod to pay N5 million each as a fine option to the jail-term. Each of the convicts were also ordered to perform 100 hour community service in addition to the fine option.
Charges against the convicts read: “that you, Sulaiman Olaibi, Adult, Male, 59 years old, on or about the 5th day of March, 2026 at Ali Street Lagos Island, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful authority dealt in 10.5 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence as provided for and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.
“That you OLUMUYIWA KOLAWOLE, Male, 57 years old and SAMOD ADISA, Male, 18 years old on or about the 18th March, 2025 at Mushin, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court without lawful authority dealt in 67.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa, narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
