African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore has criticised the seven-year prison sentence imposed on a 28-year-old man, Ashiru Idris, for advertising cannabis sativa for sale on social media.
Sowore described the judgment as “jungle justice,” arguing that it exposes deeper shortcomings within Nigeria’s criminal justice system. He called for an urgent review of the conviction, maintaining that the punishment raises concerns about fairness and proportionality.
The conviction followed the prosecution of Idris by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). In a statement issued by the Media and Advocacy Officer of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari, the agency confirmed that the judgment was delivered by the Federal High Court in Kano.
According to the NDLEA, Justice S.M. Shuaibu convicted Idris on July 14, 2026, sentencing him to seven years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine. The court also ordered that the prison term commence from the date of the judgment.
The agency stated that Idris was arrested on April 22, 2026, after operatives of the Kano Strategic Command tracked him through a video circulating on social media in which he allegedly advertised cannabis sativa for sale. The operation was reportedly carried out on the directive of the State Commander, CN DY Lawal.
The case has generated public debate over Nigeria’s drug enforcement policies and the proportionality of sentences imposed for drug-related offences, with Sowore’s criticism adding to calls for broader reforms within the country’s justice system.