Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called for the suspension and judicial review of the seven-year prison sentence imposed on Ashiru Idris by a Kano State High Court, saying the conviction is a disturbing reflection of “deep-rooted flaws in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.”
Sowore, in a statement released on Monday, argued that the sentence handed to Idris for advertising the sale of cannabis was grossly disproportionate to the offence and highlighted what he termed as an enduring imbalance in the country’s administration of justice.
He described the judgment as “jungle justice“. He contended that Nigerian courts often impose harsher punishments for non-violent offences than for crimes involving violence or loss of life.
Sowore said, “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.”
The activist linked the case to his longstanding campaign for reforms within the judiciary. He then argued that sentencing practices in some courts reveal misplaced priorities.
He said, “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.”
Sowore further established that evolving global attitudes towards cannabis should encourage broader policy discussions rather than lengthy custodial sentences.
He stated, “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.”
He maintained that imprisoning Idris for seven years without the option of a fine raised broader questions about proportionality in sentencing and the philosophy underpinning Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
According to him, “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.”
Sowore subsequently called for the immediate suspension of the judgment pending appeal and urged the Kano State Government to initiate a thorough judicial review of the case.
He also launched an online campaign under the hashtag #FreeAshiruIdrisNOW where he urged Nigerians to support calls for the prison sentence to be reconsidered.
The case has reopened public debate over sentencing standards in Nigeria, particularly in offences involving cannabis. While cannabis remains prohibited under Nigerian law and convictions are routinely secured under existing narcotics legislation, critics have repeatedly questioned whether punishments imposed for certain drug-related offences are proportionate when compared with sentences handed down in cases involving violent crimes.
Nigeria continues to maintain some of the strictest anti-drug laws in Africa, with enforcement led primarily by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). At the same time, several countries, including Canada, Germany, Uruguay, and parts of the United States, have introduced varying degrees of legal regulation for medical or recreational cannabis, a development frequently cited by advocates seeking a review of existing laws.
Sowore’s intervention does not challenge the legality of Nigeria’s cannabis laws. Rather, it questions the severity of the punishment imposed on Idris and calls attention to what he believes should be a broader conversation on judicial discretion, sentencing consistency, and criminal justice reform.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kano State Government nor the Kano State Judiciary had publicly responded to Sowore’s demand for a review of the judgment.
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