The conviction of two young men by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, a human rights lawyer, Anthony Abdullahi Dania has offered them a job.

The two convicts, Obasanjo Olonotide and Tobi Adigun were recently arraigned separately before Justice Peter Lifu by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on one count charge of unlawfully dealing on 650 grammes and 238 grammes of Cannabis Sativa.

Following their conviction by the judge, a lawyer, Dania paid the sum of N25, 000, which is the half of the fine imposed by the court against Adigun.

At the last proceeding, the prosecutor, N. J. Mamza, had told the court that the first convict, Olonotide a 24- year old was arrested with the banned weeds, on April 16, 2023, at 32, Alabi Street, Shibiri, Lagos.

Mamza also told the court that the second convict, Adigun, who is 26 years old was arrested on April 16, 2023, at First Rainbow, beside Nusack Company Limited, Amuwo Odofin Area of Lagos State. She said their offence contravened Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ACT Cap N.30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The two convicts had pleaded guilty to the charge. However, at the resumed hearing, after prosecutor reviewed the facts of the charge, tendered the exhibits, she urged the court to sentence them according to the NDLEA law they were charged with.

But the counsel to the convicts, in their separate allucutos, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, on the ground that their clients did not waste the precious time of the court, and that they are first time offenders, who have become remorseful since they were arrested.

The counsel further pleaded with the court to award the convicts an option of fine in lieu of custodian sentence. After listening to them, Justice Lifu sentenced each of the convicts to two months imprisonment, ordered that the convicts’ jail-term commenced from the day they were arrested.

The judge, therefore, gave the second defendant, Adigun, the option of fine of N50, 000, in lieu of the jail-term. After the sentencing of the convicts, Dania, who was in court for another matter, as an ‘Amicus curiae’ (friend of the court), told the court he would assist the two convicts.

He told the court that he is engaging the first convict, Olonotide, as a security man in his law firm and also pay N25, 000, of the fine option given to the second convict, Adigun.