A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a 35-year-old man, Deji Adesanya, to six months’ imprisonment for unlawful possession and trafficking of cannabis.
Justice Akintayo Aluko gave the ruling yesterday after Adesanya pleaded guilty to a one-count charge preferred by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Prosecution counsel Peter Ekuri told the court that the defendant was arrested on November 22, 2025, at Safecourt Apartment, Ikate-Elegushi, found with five kilogrammes of cannabis sativa without lawful authorisation.
Ekuri said the act violated the provisions of the NDLEA Act and carried penalties under Section 11(c) of the agency’s enabling law.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case, tendered seized exhibits and urged the court to impose a custodial term.
However, defence counsel R.M.J. Nyiew pleaded for leniency, stressing that her client showed remorse, cooperated with investigators and had undertaken not to return to crime. She prayed the court to consider a non-custodial sentence.
In sentencing, Justice Aluko observed that Adesanya was a first-time offender with no previous convictions, a point confirmed by prosecutors.
He thereafter imposed a six-month jail term, with an option of a N450,000 fine.