Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted socialite, Fayisara Ajoke Opaleye, popularly known as Iya Ruka, and her driver, Abideen Adio, for trafficking in 1,540 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, commonly referred to as marijuana.
Justice Kakaki found 61-year-old Iya Ruka and her 41-year-old driver guilty of the same crime after they pleaded guilty to an amended one count bordering on illegal drug dealing brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The convicts were arraigned initially in May on a three-count charge, including conspiracy, trafficking, and unlawful possession and transportation of the prohibited substance.
At that time, they both pleaded not guilty and were subsequently granted bail, subject to various terms and conditions.
However, at the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, both convicts pleaded guilty to trafficking and transporting the prohibited substance on the amended charge.
Specifically, Iya Ruka was charged with trafficking, while Adio was charged with transportation.
The offences, according to the Prosecutor, Buhari Abdullahi, are contrary to Sections 11(c) and 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following their plea, the prosecutor presented the facts of the case, submitted evidence, and urged the court to convict the defendants.
He also requested that the vehicle involved in the crime, an Isuzu Truck with Registration No. LSD 127 YK and Chassis No. JAANPR71HE7101834, be forfeited to the federal government, as it was used to commit the offence.
However, in a passionate plea, the convicts’ lawyer, Chief Benson Ndakara, urged the court for leniency, arguing that the early guilty pleas of his clients demonstrated their remorse.
He also urged the court to consider the health status of Iya Ruka and noted that Adio had been in custody since his arrest.
Ndakara, therefore, urged the court to impose a non-custodial sentence, particularly a fine, on the convicts.
Taking into account these factors and confirming that both were first-time offenders, Justice Kakaki ordered Iya Ruka to pay a fine of N20 million and her driver to pay N10 million as their respective penalties for their crime.
