A 28-year-old drug trafficker, Olabamidele Sotayo, was today sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos for trafficking 250 grammes of hemp.

Sotayo was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before Justice Mohammed Idris, for drug trafficking.

After his plea of guilt, the prosecutor, Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case before the court.

Aernan tendered the certificate of test analysis, packaging of substance form and the bulk of drug, request for scientific aid form and the statement of the convict taken in English Language as exhibits.

The prosecutor also tendered a drug analysis form, and a large sealed envelope containing remnants of the restricted substance.

The judge admitted the exhibits in evidence.

Aernan urged the court to convict the accused based on his plea and evidences adduced.

Justice Idris found him guilty of the offence as charged and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, saying the sentence takes effect from the date of his arrest.

The prosecutor had earlier told the court that the convict was arrested on March 14 at Babalola Street, in Sangotedo Ajah area of Lagos, with 250 grammes of narcotics.

According to Aernan, Hemp is a restricted narcotics by law, similar to cocaine and heroin.

The offence contravened the provision of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.