A murder suspect, Bamgbose Osho, who was declared wanted by the Ogun State Command of Nigeria Police, for alleged kidnapping and murder, has been convicted by a Lagos Federal High Court, for unlawful dealing in Cannabis Sativa, popularly called marijuana.

The convict also known as Lebo, was alleged to have partook in kidnapping and killing of a housewife, Memunatu Akinde and Ibikunle Ajose, a commercial motorcyclist, Owoyele Abisoye, at idoleyin Community, in Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State, sometimes in October 2020.

The convict and his members were also alleged to have dismembered the victims body and sold them.

While his co-accused have been arrested, the convict was said to be at large, and he was declared wanted by the State Command.

However, the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) later apprehended the convict, at his abode, 4, Bandu Street, Ikoga, Badagry, on October 22, 2022, with 4.3 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa popularly called Igbo in Yoruba language.

Upon his arrested and conclusion of investigation, he was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Ayokunle Faji, on two counts charge of unlawful dealing in 1 kilogram of the said banned weed, and unlawful possession of 3.3 kilograms of same banned weed.

The offences were said to contravened Sections 11(c) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The offences according to the NDLEA Act, are 25 years and life imprisonment respectively.

The convict had pleaded guilty to the charges.

But with intervention of the court, the prosecution withdrew the count two of the charge, which carries the life imprisonment punishment.

Following withdrawal of the second count and the convict’s plea of guilty, his counsel, Julius Ajibulu, asked the court tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client. He particularly told the court that his client is a first time offender, who did not waste the time of the court to plea guilty to the charge.

But the prosecutor, Barrister Femi Adebayo, urged the court to award punishable as prescribed by the section which the convict was charged with.

The prosecutor told the court that the convict aggressively attacked the agency operatives with dangerous weapons, when they wanted to arrest him.

Barrister Adebayo, also told the court that the convict had committed a murder offence and that he has been declared wanted by the Ogun State Police Command.

However, Justice Faji, after listening to parties on the submissions and citing plethoras of legal authorites, sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment.

Pic: Police Letter to NDLEA On the Convict