Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday, sentenced one Kazeem Akinde, 35, to four years in the correctional centre for dealing in illicit drugs.

Delivering judgment, Maha said that she convicted and sentenced Akinade based on the evidence tendered against him by the prosecution, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

She added that stiffer punishment would be applied against the convict if he returned to the illicit business after completing his jail term.

The judge consequently sentenced Akinade to four years in the correctional centre, starting from the date he was first arrested.

Maha ordered the NDLEA to destroy the suspected cannabis exhibit found in the possession of the convict.

The NDLEA counsel in Oyo State, Mr Daniel Otunla had earlier informed the court that the convict committed the crime on May 11, at Omiadio area of Ibadan.

Otunla explained that the NDLEA operatives received credible intelligence from concerned Nigerians that Akinade was a drug trafficker.

According to him, the operatives swung into action and apprehended the convict in possession of a bag containing 861gm of Cannabis Sativa and 20gm of Methanphetamine, a psychotropic substance.

He said that the offences contravene the provision of sections 11(C ) and 19(A) of the NDLEA Act Cap n30 laws of the federation 2004.

(NAN)