Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced two traders at the popular Ladipo Spare Parts Market, Ezeifeoma Michael and Philip Ucheka, to five years imprisonment each for trafficking 55.60kg of cannabis sativa, popularly known as marijuana.
The duo were sentenced after they pleaded guilty to an amended charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in suit marked FHC/L/216C/2026.
Prosecuting counsel, Peter Ekuri, told the court that the convicts were arrested on November 27, 2025, at Ladipo Market with the illicit substance concealed in two vehicles.
“The duo were arrested with 55.60 kilograms of cannabis sativa hidden in two vehicles,” Ekuri said.
He listed the vehicles as a grey Toyota Sienna with chassis number 5TDZK23C475079926 and an ash-coloured Hyundai Veloster with registration number MUS 318 FC and chassis number KMHTC6D5CU081675.
According to him, the offence contravened Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and is punishable under the same provision.
Earlier, when the charge was read, both convicts admitted to the offence and pleaded guilty.
Following their plea, the prosecution urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly and to order the forfeiture of the vehicles used in the trafficking.
Defence counsel, Bolanle Kolawole, in her allocutus, pleaded for leniency, describing the convicts as first-time offenders with no prior criminal records.
She urged the court to consider non-custodial sentencing, noting that the defendants had shown remorse and promised not to engage in criminal activities again.
However, Justice Aluko held that despite their plea for mercy, the seriousness of the offence warranted a custodial sentence.
After confirming from the prosecution that the convicts were first-time offenders and reviewing relevant legal authorities, the judge sentenced each of them to five years’ imprisonment.
The court, however, gave an option of a fine, ordering each convict to pay N2m in lieu of the jail term.
Justice Aluko also ordered the final forfeiture of the two vehicles used in committing the offence to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
