Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, convicted and sentenced a former banker, Joy Awosika, to pay a fine of N4m for producing a beverage laced with Cannabis Sativa.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of three vehicles used in the illegal business to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The forfeited vehicles are: A white Volkswagen van with chassis number WV1ZZZ70Z1HO84067, marked AKD 510 YJ; A white and green Toyota mini truck with chassis number YU600002559, marked LSC 999 YK; and a yellow Ford van with chassis number IFTNE24W26HA41967, marked AKD 511 YJ.
Justice Kakaki handed down the sentence after Awosika, 45, pleaded guilty to a two-count charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, accusing her of dealing in the banned substance.
According to the charge, the former banker was arrested on September 10, 2025, at Caritas Event Centre, Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos State, where she was found with 6,096 litres of “skuchies”, a locally brewed beverage that tested positive for Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin, and LSD.
The prosecution stated that Awosika acted without lawful authority, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
During the proceedings, NDLEA prosecutor Mr. Bahari Abdullahi urged the court to take the convict’s plea and convict her accordingly.
After Awosika pleaded guilty, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and tendered exhibits, which were admitted into evidence.
Abdullahi further asked the court to convict the defendant and to order the forfeiture of the vehicles used in committing the offence.
In her plea for mercy, the defence counsel, Chief (Mrs.) Lylian Omotunde, described her client as a single mother of four children and a Master’s degree holder in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Omotunde told the court that Awosika, a former employee of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, went into the illicit trade after losing her job and the collapse of her personal business.
She added that the convict was in poor health and urged the court to impose a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
After considering the plea, Justice Kakaki sentenced Awosika to pay N4m, in lieu of imprisonment and ordered the forfeiture of the three vehicles as instruments of crime.