Bamgbose Osho, also known as Lebo, who was wanted by the Ogun State Police command in 2020 over allegations of kidnapping and murder, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment by Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos. Osho was convicted of unlawful dealing in Cannabis Sativa, which he was found with when arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at his residence in October 2022.
Osho was accused of being a member of a gang that kidnapped and murdered a housewife and two commercial motorcyclists in Idoleyin Community, in Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State in October 2020. The gang was also alleged to have dismembered their victims’ bodies and sold them. While Osho’s co-accused had been arrested, he was declared wanted by the Command.
The NDLEA arrested Osho with one kilogram of Cannabis Sativa, and he was arraigned before Justice Faji on two-count charge of unlawful dealing in the banned weed and illegal possession of 3.3 kilograms of the same drug. He pleaded guilty to the charges when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor urged the court to convict Osho as prescribed by the law, citing his aggressive attack on the operatives when they tried to arrest him and his alleged involvement in a murder. However, the defence counsel asked the court to show mercy, stating that his client was a first-time offender who pleaded guilty to the charges without wasting the court’s time.
After listening to both parties, Justice Faji sentenced Osho to three years imprisonment. The offences contravened sections 11(c) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
