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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Canada returnee bags 11-year jail over cannabis trade

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A Canada returnee, Abimbola Daniel, received an 11-year prison sentence for importing and possessing 2.5kg of cannabis into Nigeria.
  • The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency charged Daniel with unlawfully importing the drug from Canada, concealed in cargo via Ethiopian Airlines.
  • The Federal High Court in Lagos gave Daniel the option of a N1.1 million fine instead of jail time, with sentences of five and six years on two counts.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Abimbola Daniel, who returned from Canada, to 11 years in prison for importing and possessing 2.5 kilograms of cannabis. Justice Akintayo Aluko delivered the sentence on Monday after Daniel pleaded guilty to two charges brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He went there to ask if they could pass through the other side of their shed. The police officer began arguing with him, saying, ‘Don’t pass here, don’t pass here.’

— Kolade OniyikuA relative of the deceased, Kolade Oniyiku, narrated the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim, Owolabi Oniyiku.

The charges alleged unlawful importation and possession of cannabis, offenses punishable under the NDLEA Act. The prosecution stated that Daniel imported the prohibited substance from Canada via an Ethiopian Airlines flight, with the cannabis concealed in cargo cleared by a logistics company in Ikeja, Lagos. Daniel was apprehended when he went to collect the consignment.

As he started turning around, the officer just opened fire on him; he didn’t even move further. He didn’t fight with them; he didn’t do anything.

— Kolade OniyikuKolade Oniyiku described the alleged actions of the police officers leading to the shooting of his relative.

Daniel admitted guilt, and the prosecution presented exhibits and facts of the case. His defense counsel pleaded for leniency, citing Daniel's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. They argued for a non-custodial sentence under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

What his death did to us right now is very heavy. It devastated the family because he was the one taking care of his mother. He was the one sending money to all his younger siblings. He was the one taking care of the family. It hurt the family deeply; all of us are in tears.

— Kolade OniyikuKolade Oniyiku expressed the profound impact of Owolabi Oniyiku's death on his family.

Justice Aluko sentenced Daniel to five years on the first count and six years on the second. However, the judge offered an alternative of a N500,000 fine for the first count and N600,000 for the second, totaling N1.1 million, as an alternative to imprisonment.

Please, they should intervene now, because with what happened, those police officers ought to be dismissed, all of them.

— Kolade OniyikuKolade Oniyiku appealed to the Governor of Ogun State and the Nigeria Police Force leadership for intervention and accountability.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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