Osun Palmwine Tapper Found With 11kg Of Indian Hemp Gets Two Years Jail

A palmwine tapper, Gbolahan Makinde, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State.

The 25-years old man was sentenced to jail for having in his possession 11kg of Indian hemp.

The convict was arraigned before Justice Peter Lifu on May 20 2017 on one count by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

He pleaded not guilty to the count and was convicted and sentenced on Wednesday.

The prosecutor, Ogaga Azugo said, “Makinde, on April 11, 2017 at Gbongan, Osun State without lawful authority had in his possession 11kg of hemp otherwise known as cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

The prosecutor had tendered the confessional statement of the convict and 11kg of Indian hemp before the court during the trial.

Counsel for the convict, Ronke Awowole, urged the court to temper justice with mercy. She told the court that her client was a first time offender.

The wife of the convict, Rukayat, who was present in court pleaded with the court to have mercy on her husband. She said although her husband used to sell canabbis, he had stopped the business before he was arrested.

Justice Lifu said, “Makinde has been selling Indian hemp for nine years. Having observed the convict’s wife, Ronke and the profile of the defendant.

” The evidence and pleas of the wife and his uncle were observed. There must be justice for such crime.

” I hereby sentence him to two years imprisonment with hard labour. The jail term will start from January 1st 2021. The 11kg of Indian Hemp should be destroyed by NDLEA Command, Osogbo.”