Lawyer Offers Convict Job, Pays Fine Awarded To Another
A human rights lawyer, Alhaji Anthony Abdullahi Dania, on Friday, offered job to a man, Obasanjo Olonotide, who was convicted by a Lagos Federal High Court.
The two convicts were separately arraigned before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a count charge of unlawful dealing 650 grammes and 238 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, about a week ago
The prosecutor, N. J. Mamza, had told the court that the first convict, Obasanjo Olonotide, 24, was arrested with the banned weeds, on April 16, 2023, at 32, Alabi street, Shibiri, Lagos.
Mamza also told the court that the second convict, Tobi Olayiwola Adigun, 26, was arrested on April 16, 2023, at First rainbow, beside Nusack Company Limited, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos State.
The two convicts, pleaded guilty to the charge.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, after reviewing the facts of the charge and tendering the exhibits, the prosecutor urged the court to sentence them according to the NDLEA they were charged with.
Lawyers to the convicts, in their separate allocutor, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy, on the ground that their clients did not waster the precious time of the court, and that they are first time offenders, who have become remorseful since they were arrested.
The lawyers further pleaded with the court to award the convicts an option of fine in lieu of custodian sentence.
The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, after listening to the convicts’ lawyers plea, sentenced each of the convicts to two months imprisonment.
The judge, while ordered that the convicts’ jail-term commenced from the day they were arrested, however gave the second convict, Tobi Olayiwola Adigun, fine option of N50, 000, in lieu of the jail-term.
After the sentencing of the convicts, Barrister Dania, who was in court for another matter, ‘Amicus curiae’ (friend of the court), told his court to assist the two convicts.
He told the court that he is engaging the first convict, Obasanjo Olonotide, as a security man in his law firm, while he also told the the court that he is paying N25, 000, of the fine option given to the second convict, Tobi Olayiwola Adigun.