Sowore slams seven-year jail term for man advertising cannabis online

The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the seven-year prison sentence handed to a Kano man for advertising cannabis for sale on social media, describing it as “jungle justice.”

Sowore, in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, called for the immediate suspension of the judgment against Ashiru Idris pending an appeal.

He also urged the Kano State Government to conduct a judicial review of the case.

“I strongly condemn what I consider to be jungle justice against this young man, Ashiru Idris, by a Kano State High Court judge for merely advertising the sale of cannabis,” he said.

He argued that Nigeria’s justice system required urgent reform, saying courts often imposed harsher punishments for non-violent offences than for more serious crimes.

“This is why I have consistently argued that Nigeria’s justice system requires urgent reform. Too often, our courts appear to react more harshly to non-violent offences than to serious crimes.

“That reflects a class bias and an outdated mindset that must be swept away by a genuine revolutionary future,” Sowore stated.

The AAC presidential candidate noted that cannabis is increasingly being cultivated and regulated as a legitimate cash crop in several countries.

“Cannabis is no longer viewed solely as an illicit drug in many parts of the world. It is now cultivated and regulated as a legitimate cash crop in numerous jurisdictions.

“Sentencing someone to seven years in prison without the option of a fine for advertising cannabis speaks to proportionality and the priorities of our criminal justice system,” he added.

Sowore called for “the immediate suspension of the judgment against Ashiru Idris pending appeal and a thorough judicial review of this case by the Kano State Government.”

Online had reported that Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kano on July 14 sentenced the 28-year-old to seven years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine after convicting him for advertising cannabis sativa for sale on social media.

According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Idris was arrested on April 22, 2026, after a video of him advertising cannabis for sale circulated on social media.

The agency described the judgment as a warning to individuals promoting illicit drugs on public platforms.