A Federal High Court seated in Lagos and presided on by Justice Daniel Osiagor, has on Monday, convicted Joshua Sunday a.k.a. “De General,” an Instagram skit comedian, of narcotics/drugs trafficking. ayokinews.com reports
The social media comedian was brought to the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) along with a cinematographer named Caleb William.
Delivering judgment on the case, Justice Osiagor stated that the amount of drug in question was little, and that he would rather convict and caution the defendants than punish them.
As a result, the defendants were found guilty and warned to “go and sin no more.”
Both defendants, accused of trafficking Tramadol and Cannabis Sativa on three counts each, pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case and presented exhibits to the court through Mr. Lucky Oghaifu, an NDLEA exhibit keeper.
Statements of the defendants, drug analysis forms, certificates of test analysis, requests for scientific help forms, and packaging of substance forms were among the evidence presented.
He asked the court to follow Section 356(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and convict the defendants based on their pleas and the prosecution’s evidence.
The complaints stated that defendants are accused of committing the crime on January 12.
Narrating the arrest ordeal, the prosecutor explained that the defendants were apprehended in the Lagos neighborhood of Lekki on grounds of illegally trading in 15 grams of cannabis and 14 grams of tramadol.
The prosecutor stated that the offence violates Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
In defense, Counsel to the defendants, Chief Lilian Omotunde, begged the court to examine alternative options besides condemning the offenders, arguing that they were still in their prime and may still be beneficial to society.
The defendants claimed they had never tasted narcotics during court interrogation.
They said in court that the drugs were used as props for a comedic routine they were filming at the time of their detention. (NAN)
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