A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has sentenced one Musa Raji Mohammed to four years in prison for trafficking 10.7 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa.
Mohammed was convicted on Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges of illegal transportation of narcotics brought against him by the Federal Government.
Delivering judgment, Justice Mashkur Salisu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to Mohammed’s conviction.
According to court records, the case commenced on March 13, 2024, following the defendant’s arraignment by government counsel, Olufemi Ijimakin. The charge sheet stated that Mohammed unlawfully trafficked cannabis along the Gbongan–Ibadan Expressway in Osun State on or about March 1, 2024, an offense contrary to Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.
During the trial, the prosecution presented three witnesses and tendered 10 exhibits in evidence against the defendant.
In his judgment, Justice Salisu noted that the offense could attract a life sentence but opted for leniency, sentencing Mohammed to four years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
He explained that the punishment was intended to serve as a deterrent to others engaging in or considering similar criminal acts. The court further ordered that the seized cannabis be destroyed and the motorcycle used in transporting the drugs be forfeited to the Federal Government.
