From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Statistics published by the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) indicate that 126 Nigerians across 14 states have been sentenced to various jail terms for drug trafficking offences between January and February.
According to the agency, of the convicts, Musa Ibrahim who was prosecuted for trafficking 40kg of cannabis in Akure, Ondo State, was sentenced to 16 years, eight months imprisonment by a Federal High Court in the state capital.
A statement issued by the Director Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Thursday, disclosed that another convict, Ibrahim Haladu, bagged a 15-year prison sentence after he was found quilty of trafficking 6.7kg of cannabis in Bauchi. Also in Bauchi, another offender, Haruna Aliya, was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment for trafficking 609kg of cannabis. Justice Hassan Dikko of the Federal High Court, Bauchi, convicted both Aliya and Haladu.
In Jos, Plateau State, Eke Chibuke was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment for trafficking Tramadol and Diazepam, while Idan Kenneth, charged with unlawful possession of 220 grammes of cannabis, 4.3 grammes of Tramadol, 3.3 grammes of Rophynol, was convicted on all three counts and sentenced to two years on each count.
A breakdown of conviction records across some other states in February shows that 18 persons were sent to prison in Kano, five each in Imo and Abia and four in Gombe.
Reacting to the record of conviction, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) has commended the Agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for the diligent prosecution of the cases, tasking them to do more so that such convictions will serve as deterrence to those that mmight be attracted to the illicit trade of drug trafficking.