Octogenarian Jailed for Selling Cannabis

•Remanded In Old People’s Home

An octogenarian, Agbomabiwon Maria Seriki, was on Thursday convicted by a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos for dealing in 10.3 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.

Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari however, ordered that the convict should be remanded at the Lagos State’s Old People’s Home, Yaba, pending when any member of her family, who is willing and able to take proper care of her, apply to court to take her custody.

The 87 year old convict, a resident of 9, Osunba Street, Oto-Awori, Ijanikin, Lagos, had last week Tuesday, pleaded guilty to a count charge of unlawful dealing in 10.3 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic similar to cocaine, heroine and LSD, when she was arraigned before the court, by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Upon her plea of guilty, the prosecutor, Aliyu Abubakar, had urged the court to adjourn the matter till yesterday, to review fact of the case.

When the matter came up yesterday, the prosecutor reviewed fact of the case and tendered some exhibits which includes the convict’s confessional statements, drug test analysis, and the bulk of the Cannabis Sativa seized from her, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

After the admisibility of the exhibits, the court pronounced the 87 years old woman, convicted as charged.
However, the convict’s lawyer, Prosper Ojakovo, in his alucutor, pleaded with the court to be lenient in sentencing his client.

Ojakovo told the court that the convict was a first time offender, who has nobody to take care of her. He pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy, and consider her age in sentencing her.

In sentencing the convict, Justice Rabiu-Shagari stated that sending her to prison will be of no benefits, especially when the court consider her age.

The judge, consequently ordered that the convict be remanded at the Lagos State Old People’s Home, Yaba, pending when any member of her family who is willing and able to take proper care of her apply to court for such.

The convict offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under sections 11(c) of NDLEA cap. N30, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Peter Fowoyo