Court Rules On Comedian De General's Case Of Alleged Drug Trafficking | DETAILS
Faith Ukanwa
Jan 25, 2022
Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, convicted a skit maker, Joshua Sunday, popularly known as De General, of drug trafficking.
READ ALSO: How NDLEA Finally Captured Drug Kingpin Who Killed Three Officers After 12 Years on the Run
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="754"] De General[/caption]
READ ALSO: 2 Billion Scandal: Inside Gavice Logistics, EFCC's Probe, and the Future of Its CEO
The defendant, also a social media influencer, was dragged to court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, alongside Caleb William, a cinematographer.
READ ALSO: BETWEEN THE OPPRESSOR AND THE OPPRESSEE - BY ALEX OTTI
Delivering judgment, Justice Osiagor held that the volume of substance was minimal and would rather convict the defendants and caution them, rather than sentence them.
READ ALSO: Africa's richest woman 'ripped off her country'
The court, consequently, convicted the defendants and cautioned them to "go and sin no moreÔÇØ.
READ ALSO: TR0UBLE L00MS: Nationwide Protest To Remove Buhari Holds On Democracy Day |READ DETAILS
Both defendants, 22, were charged with three counts of trafficking Tramadol and Cannabis Sativa.
READ ALSO: INEC Sued Over 'Missing' 55.9bn 2019 Election Funds
They both pleaded guilty to the charge.
READ ALSO: [BREAKING] #EndSARS: Lagos declares 24-hour curfew
After their pleas, the prosecutor, Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered evidence before the court, through an NDLEA exhibit keeper, Lucky Oghaifu.
READ ALSO: Church Suspends Priest Aspiring For Benue Governorship, Give Reasons | DETAILS
Among the evidence tendered include statements of the defendants, drug analysis form, certificate of test analysis, request for scientific aid form, packaging of substance form among others.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: AKWA IBOM ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS ABAK LG BOSS INDEFINITELY OVER ALLEGED ASSAULT
He urged the court to be guided by the provisions of Section 356(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and convict the defendants based on their pleas as well as evidence adduced by the prosecution.
READ ALSO: How NDLEA Uncovered a Massive Lekki Drug Lab and Arrested Its Saudi-Bound Owner | SEE PHOTOS
According to the charge, the defendants were said to have committed the offence on January 12, 2022.
READ ALSO: Popular Islamic Cleric Found Dead In Zamfara
The prosecutor said that they were arrested around the Lekki area of Lagos for unlawfully dealing in 15 g of Cannabis and 14 g of tramadol.
READ ALSO: How Suspects Used Fake Alert to Acquire 75m Mercedes Benz GLE In Kano
He said that the offence contravenes the provision of Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
READ ALSO: How NDLEA Finally Captured Drug Kingpin Who Killed Three Officers After 12 Years on the Run
In response, the Defence Counsel, Lilian Omotunde, urged the court to consider other options besides sentencing the defendants, on the grounds that the defendants were still at their prime and could still be useful to society.
READ ALSO: 2 Billion Scandal: Inside Gavice Logistics, EFCC's Probe, and the Future of Its CEO
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that earlier, during interrogations by the court, the defendants told the court that they had never tasted drugs.
READ ALSO: BETWEEN THE OPPRESSOR AND THE OPPRESSEE - BY ALEX OTTI
They told the court that the substances were used as props for their comedy skit, which they were in the process of shooting, before their arrest.
READ ALSO: Africa's richest woman 'ripped off her country'
(NAN)
Related Stories
How Suspects Used Fake Alert to Acquire 75m Mercedes Benz GLE In Kano
How NDLEA Finally Captured Drug Kingpin Who Killed Three Officers After 12 Years on the Run
INEC Sued Over 'Missing' 55.9bn 2019 Election Funds
How NDLEA Uncovered a Massive Lekki Drug Lab and Arrested Its Saudi-Bound Owner | SEE PHOTOS
2 Billion Scandal: Inside Gavice Logistics, EFCC's Probe, and the Future of Its CEO
Popular Islamic Cleric Found Dead In Zamfara
""
— Faith Ukanwa