A man, Ibrahim Akeem and his nursing mother-wife, Bukonla, have been arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before separate courts of Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, for unlawful possession of different types of hard drugs.
While Ibrahim was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Abimbola Awogboro on a six count-charge of unlawful dealing in 34.17 grams of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs named ‘Designer drugs’, Bukonla was arraigned on a one-count charge of unlawful possession of 12 grammes of Methamphetamine before Justice Tijjani Ringim.
The prosecutor, Mr. Adebayo Oluwafemi, told the court that Ibrahim committed the offences on August 25, at their residence, 1, Iduwawa Street, Oto Awori Ijanikin, Ojo Local Council of Lagos State, while his wife was arrested with the drug at the NDLEA office in Ibereko, Badagry, when she visited her husband.
The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the couple are contrary to section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The couple pleaded guilty to the charges.
But while Justice Awogboro adjourned the matter till Monday, October 25, for review of facts of the charges against the husband, Justice Ringim convicted the wife.
Justice Ringim, in consideration of the quantity of the drug and the convict, being a nursing mother, however, made a ‘bidding order’ for two years, whereby he held that she should be of good behaviour, never to engage in illicit acts.
The judge also ordered that the convicted woman, in case of default to the ‘bidding order’ should be liable to six-month imprisonment and reactivation of the charge against her.
The judge also ordered her to pay the sum of N200, 000 with one reliable surety in like sum, who must furnish the court with his address, means of livelihood, two passport photographs, statement of account for six months from today and recommendation letter from the convict’s counsel.
