Joy Onuorah

A federal high court sitting in Lagos recently acquitted hard drugs convicted skit maker, De General. The up-and-coming skit maker was convicted of drug trafficking.
However, he has been freed.

According to reports, some operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided the skit maker’s Lagos home in a drug bust on January 12.

After the raid, the NDLEA indicated that they recovered some cannabis sativa, 225mg worth of tramadol, and some paraphernalia for drug use.

The agency said De General, born Joshua Sunday, accepted ownership of the drugs after which he was arrested alongside three other persons.

According to NAN, the entertainer was arraigned before the court on Monday alongside Caleb William, a cinematographer.

The pair were charged with three counts of trafficking tramadol and cannabis sativa.

During the trial, they pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them by the NDLEA.

After their pleas, Jeremiah Aernan, the prosecutor, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered evidences before the court, through an NDLEA exhibit keeper identified as Lucky Oghaifu.

Aernan said the defendants were arrested for unlawfully dealing in 15g of cannabis and 14 g of tramadol.

He also argued that the offences committed by the convicts are contrary to and punishable under section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecutor then prayed the court to sentence the two men as prescribed by section 356(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 since they pleaded guilty to the charge.

But Lilian Omotunde, the defence counsel, urged the court to consider other options besides sentencing the defendants.

Omotunde also based her argument on the grounds that the defendants were still at their prime and could still be useful to society.

In his ruling, Daniel Osiagor, held that the volume of substance was minimal and would rather convict the defendants and caution them, rather than sentence them.

The thereafter urged the defendants to “go and sin no more”.