NEWS
48 Years Old bags 3 Years Imprisonment over Unlawful Possession of Indian Hemp
A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Friday sentenced an illicit drug dealer, Tofade Ojo, 48, to three years in prison over unlawful trafficking of 17.5 kg of Cannabis Sativa.
Delivering judgment, Justice Uche Agomoh held that she sentenced Ojo based on the overwhelming evidence against him and the guilty plea he entered.
“Ordinarily, the punishment for this offence is life imprisonment, but the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 forbids the court from imposing a life imprisonment punishment on a first time offender.
“I hope that the convict is truly remorseful of his action and would use the opportunity provided as a second chance never to partake in any form of crime again.
“However, to serve as a warning to others thinking of engaging in the illicit trade, Ojo is sentenced to three years in prison.
“The sentence takes note of the date the convict had been remanded in the prison.
“The weed exhibit found in his possession shall be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),” the judge said.
Earlier, the defense counsel, Mr Kehinde Olawuni, had prayed the court to be liberal in sentencing his client.
Olawuni added that the convict had already spent close to two years in Agodi correctional centre in Ibadan before he eventually pleaded guilty to the crime.
The NDLEA counsel, Ms Ann Balogun had informed the court that Ojo was arraigned on a-count charge of unlawful dealing in Cannabis Sativa.
According to Balogun, the convict was arrested by vigilant custom officials in Ibadan on April 5, 2022.
She further disclosed that Ojo, who was 46 years old at that time, was caught in possession of a brown sack containing 17.5 kg of Indian Hemp and handed over to the NDLEA operatives.
The prosecutor stated that the offence contravened section 11(C ) of the NDLEA Act Cap n30 Laws of the Federation 2004. (NAN)
Abia House of Assembly has denied social media report that it mandated the Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, to issue a public apology over a misunderstanding between him and its member.The Deputy Speaker and Spokesperson, Austin Meregini, who debunked such report while addressing newsmen in Umuahia on Thursday, said the House did not reach any resolution to that effect.
He admitted that there was a misunderstanding between the deputy governor and Mr Mba Nwoko, member representing Ohafia South State Constituency, but said the matter had been taken care of Report says that there have been publications by social media of the House mandating the deputy governor to apologise to Nwoko for disrespecting the lawmaker during the recent state-wide local government elections. It was alleged that Emetu, who is from the same constituency with Nwoko, had instructed the security operatives to arrest the lawmaker for asking about the election result sheet.Condemning the report, Meregini, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Media, said that it was the imagination and figment of the mischief makers.He said that the deputy governor and the lawmaker are brothers, hence there was no need for the Assembly to pass a resolution mandating such an apology.Meregini said: “I was present at the Tuesday sitting, both at the plenary and executive session; there was no time we reached such resolution.“We do not condone any kind of misunderstanding, but as long as we co-exist, there’s bound to be misunderstanding every now and then.“When there is need, we do offer constructive criticism and constructive oversight on the activities of the government and the Executive and we expect that it will continue.”He reaffirmed the robust relationship between the Legislature and the Executive, saying that it would continue to exist for the benefit of Abia people.The deputy speaker commended the Executive on the level of implementation, while expressing satisfaction with the quality of bills passed by the Assembly.(NAN)
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has proposed the sum of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year for submission to the National Assembly on Monday.The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu disclosed this after the Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.
According to him, the Council pegged the price of crude oil at 75 dollar per barrel and proposed N1400 as exchange rate to a dollar with oil production put at 2. 06million barrels per day.Bagudu said that the budget proposal included new borrowings of N9.2 trillion to finance the budget deficit in 2025.The minister added that with the growth rate of 3.19 per cent as at the second quarter of 2024, the Federal Government would continue to tackle Inflation, strengthen economic resilience and provide more support for the economy.He also said that government would continue to support high employment generation sectors, improve business environment and effective implementation of youths development and social investment programmes.Bagudu also disclosed that FEC reviewed the 2024 Budget implementation and acknowledged that the review revealed promising in revenue collection and expenditure management.” Despite lacks in prorated target, the overall trajectory shows that fiscal effort are on track with key non-oil streams performing better than anticipated.Similarly, the minister said FEC approved the medium term expenditure framework and the fiscal strategy paper to be submitted to the NASS.” This is in addition to the bills that are already at the National Assembly, the Economic Stabilisation Bill and Tax Reforms Bill , which we believe we will have a very strong growth in 2025,” he said. (NAN)
Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo has ordered immediate freezing of all the state bank accounts until further notice.Okpebholo gave the directive in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Fred Itua, on Thursday in Benin.He warned that non-compliance by commercial banks as well as heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would result in severe penalties.
“All bank accounts in all commercial banks are now frozen. Commercial banks must ensure strict adherence and prevent any withdrawal from government accounts until further notice,” the statement said. Okpebholo stated that necessary investigations and financial reconciliations would determine subsequent actions.He also ordered the reversal of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to the old Ministry of Works with immediate effect.The governor cited what he called lack of completed bridges or significant road projects as a justification for changing the ministry of roads and bridges back to ministry of works.“It is ironic that despite its name, the ministry did not construct a single bridge, not even a pedestrian one,” he said.The governor directed immediate implementation and reflection of the new name across official documents and platforms. (NAN)
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