A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced two traders from the Alaba-Rago Market, Abubakar Sadiq and Isah Ibrahim, to 12 months in prison for conspiracy and illegal dealing in 11 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as Indian hemp or marijuana.
The sentencing followed their guilty pleas to charges filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Justice Deinde Dipeolu, who presided over the case, delivered the sentence after both men admitted to the offences. Sadiq, 25, was charged with two counts of conspiracy and unlawful dealing, while Ibrahim, 27, faced a single charge of conspiracy.
According to NDLEA prosecutor Abdullahi Buhari, the defendants were arrested on July 3, 2025, at Alaba-Rago Market along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway while selling the banned substance. Buhari stated that their actions violated sections 14(b) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
Following the guilty pleas, the prosecution reviewed the case facts and presented the evidence in court, urging the judge to convict and sentence the accused.
Defence counsel, Evans Njoku, pleaded for leniency, noting that both men were first-time offenders with no prior criminal records. He further argued that their admission of guilt saved the court’s time and requested a non-custodial sentence or a monetary fine in lieu of imprisonment.
Taking the plea into account, and with confirmation from the prosecution that the defendants had no prior convictions, Justice Dipeolu sentenced each man to six months in prison per count.
However, the judge offered a fine alternative: Abubakar Sadiq was ordered to pay a total of ₦1.1 million, while Isah Ibrahim was given the option of paying ₦500,000 to avoid incarceration.
The amended charge against both read:
“That you, Abubakar Sadiq, male, 25 years old, and Isah Ibrahim, male, 27 years old, on or about 3rd of July 2025, at Alaba-Rago, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to traffic in 11 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin, and LSD, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation 2004.”
A separate charge for Sadiq read:
“That you, Abubakar Sadiq, male, 25 years old, on or about 3rd of July 2025, at Alaba-Rago, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, dealt in 11 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin, and LSD, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation 2004.”
