A Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna, on Friday, sentenced a 30- year-old man, Stephen Jeremiah, to four years imprisonment for unlawful possession of hard drugs.
Jeremiah, a resident of Angwan Bulus Television area of Kaduna State, was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and possession of hard drugs by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Justice Hadiza Shagari sentenced Jeremiah after he pleaded guilty to the charges and begged for leniency.
The judge sentenced him to two years imprisonment for each of the three charges without an option of fine.
She ordered that the sentences of two years for each of the two-count charge will run consecutively totaling six years in all, without any option of fine.
“This is to serve as a deterrent to others, considering your age and your determination to be a notorious criminal,’’ the judge said.
Shagari ordered that the hard drugs, tendered as exhibits, be burnt by the NDLEA after 30 days of the court’s judgment.
The NDLEA Prosecuting Counsel, T. J. Atserhegh, said the convict was arrested on Dec. 6 by officials of the agency.
He was in possession of 200g of Cannabis, 49.3g of Tramadol and 8g of Exol-5, similar to cocaine and narcotic when he was arrested.
He noted that the suspect’s offences contravened Sections 24 and 19 of NDLEA Act, Cap. N30 Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004. (NAN)
