A 76-year-old man, Mr. Francis Omofe, has been sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison for drug-related offences.

Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution successfully proved the two-count charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, leading to his conviction.

Despite pleas for leniency, the judge emphasized the need for strict punishment to serve as a deterrent in the national interest. He noted that transporting a large commercial quantity of cannabis using a vehicle fitted with a police number plate, with the intention of moving it to northern Nigeria—particularly Kaduna State—was a serious offence.

Justice Omotosho initially sentenced Omofe to 15 years imprisonment on the first count without an option of fine. On the second count, the judge reduced a life sentence to 25 years, taking into account the defendant’s advanced age.

However, the court ordered that both sentences run concurrently from June 18, 2024, the date of his arrest, effectively meaning he will serve 25 years in prison.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which prosecuted the case under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/286/2024, stated that Omofe was arrested in Abuja while transporting over 340 kilograms of cannabis in a Nissan Frontier vehicle bearing a police number plate.

He was found guilty of both possessing and transporting the illicit substance, offences punishable under relevant sections of the NDLEA Act.