Alaba-Rago Traders Face Imprisonment Over Cannabis Sativa Dealings

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced two traders from the bustling Alaba-Rago market, Abubakar Sadiq and Isah Ibrahim, to 12 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy and illegal dealings involving 11 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as Indian hemp or marijuana.

According to the Nigerian Tribune, the conviction came after they pleaded guilty to charges filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Presiding over the case, Justice Deinde Dipeolu delivered the sentence after both defendants admitted to committing the offences.

According to the prosecution, led by Abdullahi Buhari, the suspects were apprehended on July 3 at the Alaba-Rago market along the Lagos-Badagry expressway while allegedly selling the prohibited substance to customers.

Buhari detailed the charges, noting that 25-year-old Abubakar Sadiq faced a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful dealing in the banned substance. In contrast, 27-year-old Isah Ibrahim was charged with conspiracy only.

The prosecutor explained that Sadiq’s actions violated sections 14(b) and 11(c) of the NDLEA Act Cap. N30, Law of the Federation 2004, while Ibrahim’s conduct contravened section 11(c) of the same law.

Upon reading of the charges, both traders pleaded guilty. This prompted the prosecution to review the facts of the case, tender the exhibits, and request that the court convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

During his allocutus, the defence lawyer, Evans Njoku, urged the court to show leniency, stressing that his clients were first-time offenders with no prior criminal records. He also noted that their guilty pleas had saved the court valuable time and requested a non-custodial sentence or payment of fines in place of imprisonment.

After reviewing the defence’s submission and confirming with the prosecution that the men were indeed first-time offenders, Justice Dipeolu sentenced both traders to six months’ imprisonment on each count.

However, the judge offered an alternative to incarceration. Sadiq was ordered to pay a total fine of N1.1 million, while Ibrahim was required to pay N500,000 to avoid serving their jail terms.

The amended charge against the defendants 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 similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Law of the Federation 2004.”