Despite Buju Banton’s request to be absent from his sentencing hearing next month, under the United States law, the reggae entertainer may have to attend.

Ihmotep Alkebu-lan a member of Buju’s legal team tells Music News that the judge has since issued an order requiring that Buju Banton be present at the sentencing hearing on October 30 in the US District Court in Tampa, Florida.

Buju had appealed his 10-year sentence after being found guilty on cocaine related charges but the appeal was thrown out by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta Georgia. The court also re-instated a firearm charge that was dismissed by Judge James Moody.

Buju Banton faces an additional five years on the firearm charge.

The entertainer is currently being housed at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Miami, a low security prison.