Thursday, August 27, 2026

Jobless woman jailed four years for possessing marijuana

A 35-year-old unemployed woman, Mercy Raymond, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for possessing five kilogrammes of marijuana.

• July 15, 2026
Kaduna prison
Kaduna prison [Photo Credit: OjotuleZoe]

Justice Hawau’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division, on Wednesday sentenced a 35-year-old unemployed woman, Mercy Raymond, to four years’ imprisonment for possessing five kilogrammes of marijuana.

Ms Buhari sentenced Ms Raymond following her guilty plea to illegal possession of hard drugs filed against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Ms Buhari, in her judgement, gave Ms Raymond the option of a N200,000 fine.

The NDLEA counsel, Ocholi David, had earlier told the court that Ms Raymond was arrested in possession of a banned substance at the Abuja-Kaduna road junction on July 7.

He said the offence contravened the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.

Based on her guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to sentence her according to the prescribed law under which she was charged.

The defence counsel, M. T. David, in a formal plea for leniency, begged the court to temper justice with mercy for his client, who was a first-time offender.

(NAN)

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