A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 76-year-old man, Francis Omofe, to a total of 25 years imprisonment for drug-related offences involving large quantities of cannabis.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction of the defendant on a two-count charge.
“Consequently, he is hereby convicted as charged,” the judge ruled, noting that the sentence must serve as a deterrent in the broader national interest.
The court sentenced Omofe to 15 years imprisonment on count one without the option of a fine, while a separate life sentence on count two was reduced to 25 years due to his age. Both sentences are to run concurrently, effectively resulting in a 25-year jail term.
Justice Omotosho emphasised the gravity of the offence, particularly the transportation of a large commercial quantity of cannabis using a vehicle fitted with a police number plate. He described the act as unacceptable, especially given the link between drug abuse and violent crimes in parts of the country.
Omofe was arrested on June 18, 2024, along Kuje Road in Abuja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to court documents, he was apprehended in a Nissan Frontier vehicle bearing a police plate number while transporting 340.8 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa from Edo State to Kaduna State.
The charges, filed under the NDLEA Act, included unlawful possession and transportation of narcotic substances, offences which carry severe penalties under Nigerian law.
The ruling underscores ongoing efforts by authorities to clamp down on drug trafficking networks, with courts increasingly handing down stiff sentences aimed at curbing the spread and impact of illicit substances.