Teenager bags 18 months in jail for trafficking drugs

Police cell

A 20-year-old boy, Abiodun Oyatolu, who had pleaded guilty to trafficking in 9.9 grammes of heroin in Lagos, is to cool his heels in prison for the next 18 months, a Federal High Court ruled on Wednesday.

Justice Abdulazeez Anka, who handed down the verdict, said the drug trafficker was guilty as charged.

The accused had admitted guilt of the offence of trafficking in hard drug preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The judge, however, sad the sentence should begin from the date of judgment and ordered the exhibits to be destroyed if there was no subsisting appeal.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had tendered as evidence before the court a written statement of the accused, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis certificate, as well as remnant of the analysed substance which were admitted as exhibits.

Shortly before the sentence, the accused had begged the court to temper justice with mercy, saying “it is the work of the devil, I promise to turn a new leaf.”

The accused committed the offence on Jan. 20 at Ipodo, the heart of Ikeja, Lagos State capital.

He was arrested with 9.9 grammes of heroin, a narcotic similar to cocaine and other psychotropic substances.

It was analysed in the laboratory by the NDLEA and was confirmed as heroin, the prosecutor said.

The offence contravened Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.