The Federal High Court, Ibadan Division, has sentenced a middle-aged man, Kazeem Lamidi, to 16 years’ imprisonment for trafficking 407 grammes of cannabis.

Justice Nkeonye Maha convicted and sentenced Mr Lamidi after he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of unlawful dealing in narcotics levelled against him.

The judge stated that the law had to be applied against the convict to serve as a deterrent to other would-be drug traffickers.

The judge stated that the court records indicated that Mr Lamidi was not a first-time offender, hence the need for the sentence.

“Therefore, Lamidi is sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment from the date he was arrested. The weed exhibit found in his possession shall be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,” the judge said.

Section 11(C) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, prescribes a maximum life imprisonment for anyone convicted.

Earlier, counsel to the NDLEA, Daniel Otunla, had informed the court that the convict committed the offence on June 6 in the Bodija area of Ibadan.

Mr Otunla said that the NDLEA operatives acted on intelligence reports that Mr Lamidi was involved in the illicit business of drug trafficking.

According to him, the operatives apprehended the convict in possession of a bag containing 407 grammes of the illicit substance.

(NAN)