Justice Simon Amobeda of a Federal High Court in Kano on Friday gave a convict, Abubakar Modu, 60, a second chance after sentencing him to two years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of 36.6 kg of cannabis.
Modu, whose address was not provided by the court, was convicted on a one-count charge of unlawful possession of narcotic drugs, specifically cannabis.
Justice Amobeda said there was no better evidence than the defendant’s plea of guilt, citing Sections 274(1) and 356(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
He stated that the offence under the NDLEA Act is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
“The defendant did not waste the precious time of the court. The principles of rehabilitation include deterrence, prevention, restitution, reformation, and retribution.
“Giving people back their lives, no matter what, is important. In the eyes of the law, you can try to put things together, and leniency works,” he said.
Justice Amobeda sentenced the defendant to two years’ imprisonment for possession of hard drugs from the date of his arrest, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine.
“I am not encouraging him to take drugs. You cannot separate love from reality. He is an aged person; he should go back to his family and grandchildren.
“I will pay the sum of ₦100,000 on behalf of the defendant as the option of fine,” Amobeda said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge instantly transferred the sum of ₦100,000 to the court clerk to enable the defendant to return to his family, warning him not to commit such an offence again.
The judge also ordered that the hard drugs tendered as exhibits by the NDLEA be destroyed.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Raliya Abdulaziz, told the court that Modu was arrested on June 20, 2025, by officials of the agency.
She said that on the same date, the defendant was found in possession of 36.6 kg of cannabis at Gadar Tamburawa in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State.
The prosecution presented four exhibits to prove its case and urged the court to convict him.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (as amended).
The defence counsel, Ms. Hadiza Nasir-Ahmad, told the court that the defendant was a first-time offender and a victim of circumstance, assuring the court that he would not commit any offence again.
“My Lord, temper justice with mercy. The defendant is an aged man; his family relies on him, and he has children and grandchildren,” Nasir-Ahmad pleaded.
NAN
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