Court sentences landlord for allowing tenant store cannabis in warehouse

Saheed Ojomu, 51, was given a five-year prison sentence by a Federal High Court in Lagos for permitting his tenant to store cannabis in his shop.

After the defendant amended his plea from not guilty to guilty, Justice Daniel Osiagor gave the punishment to the defendant.

On March 31, 2017, agents from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency detained the offender after discovering the illegal substance at one of his stores.

He claimed the illegal substance belonged to one of his tenants, Sakiru, who is currently at large, during his arrest and arraignment. He also entered a not-guilty plea to the charge.

The charge read, “That you, Saheed Ojomu, 46, on or about March 31, 2017, at No. 1, Osho Street, Island, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being occupier and manager of a shop at No.1, Osho Street, Lagos Island, unlawfully permitted same to be used by one Sakiru (now at large) to store and deal in 372.6 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

The prosecution called two witnesses throughout the trial and submitted certain evidence, which the court accepted.

But on Wednesday, when the convict's trial was resumed, his attorney, Mrs. Vivienne Ekwegh, told the court that her client had changed his plea.

Mrs. N. J. Mamza, the prosecutor, made no objections to the defense's application.

Justice Osiagor mandated that the offender enter a new plea after hearing from both attorneys regarding the new information.

The prosecution reviewed the case's circumstances after the shop owner's plea was renewed and urged the court to sentence him in accordance with applicable legislation.

However, the convict's attorney, Ekwegh, in her appeal for leniency, referred to her client as a "victim of circumstances" because he was not aware that his tenant had stored the illegal material in his shop.

She encouraged the court to grant a monetary option rather than a custodial term as a result.

Justice Osiagor condemned the defendant to five years in jail in his ruling.

However, the court mandated that the convicted party pay a N300,000 fine.

In addition to the monetary penalties, the judge mandated that the offender do three weeks of community service without supervision.