Justice Yilwa sentences businesswoman in drug case

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced a local businesswoman, Anita Job, to a multi-year prison term for drug dealing.

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The mother of three was found guilty of two counts related to the distribution of illicit substances within the Federal Capital Territory following an intensive prosecution by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The court heard that Anita Job was apprehended in possession of 250 kilograms of illicit drugs, a volume Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa categorised as a commercial quantity.

During the sentencing phase, the judge handed down 12 years for the first count and 15 years for the second.

A secondary highlight of the proceedings emerged when Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa observed the defendant’s consistent remorse and her decision to enter a guilty plea immediately.

This admission of guilt, coupled with the status of Anita Job as a first-time offender, influenced the court’s final decision on the duration of the incarceration.

Consequently, the judge ordered that the sentences for both counts should run concurrently.

Under this judicial directive, the convicted woman will serve a total prison term for drug dealing of 15 years rather than the cumulative 27 years originally calculated.

Defence counsel Barrister D. I. Badams had earlier entered a passionate plea for leniency, citing his client’s vow to permanently abandon the narcotics trade.

The lawyer emphasised that the convict had cooperated fully with investigators from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency throughout the duration of the case.

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa noted that while the personal circumstances of Anita Job were taken into account, the formidable nature of drug-related crime necessitates a strict deterrent.

The judge remarked that the volume of substances involved posed a severe threat to the national interest and the standing of Nigeria within the international community.

The convict was led away from the courtroom to begin her sentence immediately after the final pronouncement.

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Officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency stated that the verdict reinforces the government’s commitment to eradicating large-scale drug trafficking hubs operating out of the capital.