Rita Odafe
On Friday, March 31, 2023, Justice Mohammed Garba of the Federal High Court in Kaduna State sentenced 38-year-old Felicia Raymond to three years imprisonment for dealing in 4.5kg of marijuana. The convict had pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of a substance charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA). The judge gave Raymond an option of paying a N100,000 fine.
The NDLEA prosecuting counsel, T. J. Atserhegh, informed the court that Raymond was arrested in the Ungwan Rimi area of Kaduna on February 13 based on information received regarding her activities in the area. The prosecutor stated that the offence was punishable under Section 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, LFN, 2004 (As Amended).
The defence lawyer, Mr Francis Dauda, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as his client was now remorseful and a first-time offender. He asked the court to consider an option of a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
