Marijuana possession has earned a 35-year-old woman a four-year prison sentence after a Federal High Court in Kaduna convicted her on charges brought by the NDLEA.
A Federal High Court in Kaduna State has sentenced a 35-year-old unemployed woman, Mercy Raymond, to four years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of marijuana.
Justice Hawau’u Buhari delivered the judgment on Wednesday after Raymond pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of illegal possession of hard drugs filed against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The court, however, gave the convict the option of paying a ₦200,000 fine instead of serving the prison term.
Earlier, counsel to the NDLEA, Mr. Ocholi David, told the court that Raymond was arrested on July 7, 2026, at the Abuja-Kaduna Road junction while in possession of 5 kilograms of marijuana.
He said the offence contravenes the provisions of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence her in accordance with the law.
In his plea for leniency, defence counsel, M. T. David, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that Raymond was a first-time offender.
Justice Buhari subsequently convicted and sentenced the defendant in line with the provisions of the law.
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