A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced 43-year-old trader Abubakar Sulaiman to seven years imprisonment for trafficking in multiple banned substances.
The court, presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa, also offered Sulaiman the option to pay a fine of N5 million in lieu of serving the custodial sentence.
Sulaiman, a resident of Ikorodu, Lagos, was convicted after pleading guilty to seven-count charges brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The charges centered on unlawful possession and trafficking of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
According to the NDLEA, Sulaiman was found in possession of large quantities of various illicit drugs during a surveillance operation at his residence. The substances recovered included Cannabis Sativa, Diazepam, Tramadol, Codeine-based cough syrup, Rohypnol, Methamphetamine, and Molly (MDMA).
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the prosecution, led by Mr. B.S. Abdullahi and assisted by J.O. Negudu, informed the court of the charges and requested they be formally read to the accused. Upon hearing the charges, Sulaiman promptly pleaded guilty to all seven counts.
Following the plea, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case and presented key evidence. This included Sulaiman’s extrajudicial statement as well as samples of the seized drugs. Mr. Abdullahi highlighted the gravity of the offense, stating, “The convict was found with multiple quantities of banned narcotic and psychotropic substances recovered from his home. The volume and diversity of these drugs are alarming.”
With no objection from the defense, the court found Sulaiman guilty on all counts. The prosecution urged the court to convict him in accordance with Section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, emphasizing the weight of the evidence and the defendant’s admission of guilt.
In his defense, counsel Mr. Augustin Nwagwu made a heartfelt plea for mercy. “My Lord, the convict is a first-time offender who has not wasted the court’s time. He has shown sincere remorse and has promised never to return to criminal activity. We ask Your Lordship to temper justice with mercy.”
After considering the submissions from both sides, Justice Lewis-Alagoa convicted Sulaiman on all seven counts and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment. However, the judge allowed the option of paying a fine of N5 million instead of serving the jail term.
“Having reviewed the facts and the evidence presented, and taking into account the accused’s voluntary guilty plea, I hereby convict and sentence him to seven years imprisonment or, alternatively, a fine of N5 million,” the judge ruled.
The judge further urged Sulaiman to reflect deeply on his choices and urged him to use the opportunity presented by the fine option as a chance for rehabilitation.
“This conviction should act as a deterrent to others,” Justice Lewis-Alagoa added. “The abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs pose a serious threat to our society and must be dealt with firmly.”