EJEMBI EKO, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellant was tried for unlawful dealing in 10kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp). He pleaded guilty upon arraignment and was summarily convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by the Federal High Court (Coram: Faji, FJ.). His conviction and sentence, upon appeal to the Court of Appeal (the Lower Court) where the sole issue was about the jurisdiction of the trial Court, were affirmed by the Lower Court.
Jurisdiction of the trial Federal High Court is still the sole issue in this further appeal brought by the convict Appellant. For the Appellant the sole issue has been couched thus by his counsel -
"Whether having cognizance of the charge preferred against the Appellant at the trial Court, the Court below was correct when it upheld the decision of the said trial Court that it was seised of the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the proceedings undertaken pursuant thereto?"
The charge, on which the proceedings culminating in…