Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos has convicted and sentenced one Owolabi Joseph Ayodele (male) to three years imprisonment on each of the two counts preferred against him for unlawful use of agents to import 3.20 Kilograms of Cannabis, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD.
The convict who was charged to court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) procured Elisha Williams Lar of Wilz Reliance Solutions Logistics Company and Duruaku Amanda of Haut Logistics to unlawfully import the prohibited drug. The sentence handed down to him by the Judge is to run concurrently.
However, the court gave the convict an option of fine to pay N1.5 million in lieu of prison term. Additionally, the convict was ordered to serve 100 hours for community service.
When the matter was called for arraignment, NDLEA prosecution counsel Arit N. Okon informed that court that he has filed a two counts charge against the defendant and prayed that the charge be read out for him to take plea. The defence counsel Bolanle B. Kolawole did not object
The prayer was granted and the charge was subsequently read out to him. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of the plea of the defendant, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and tendered supportive materials and documents as evidence. There was no objection from the defence counsel.
Consequently, based on the guilty plea of the defendant, evidence adduced by the prosecution, test analysis, bulk of the materials and documents tendered and admittedly in evidence and in accordance with the relevant provision of the NDLEA act concerning the charge, the court found the defendant guilty and convicted him as charged.
In praying for leniency for the convict, the defence counsel Bolanle B Kolawole urged the court to be merciful in sentencing the convict. She told the court that the convict pleaded guilty at the earliest time without wasting the precious time of the court. She said that the convict is a family man who has shown remorse, a first time offender who was struggling to meet the family needs.
In sentencing the convict, after hearing the allocutus, Justice Aneke held that he is inclined to temper justice with mercy but however not unmindful of the damage the illicit act of the convict and his cohorts has done to our country nationally and internationally.
Consequently, “You Owolabi Joseph Ayodele, male, adult is hereby sentenced to 3 years imprisonment in each of the two counts. The sentence to run concurrently.”
The convict in lieu of prison term, shall pay N1.5 million into the consolidated revenue account for the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In addition the convict is to serve 100 hours for community service.
Counts 1 and 2 of the charge read
“That you, OWOLABI JOSEPH AYODELE, Male, Adult on or about the 12 day of February, 2026, during the inward clearance of cargo with Airway Bill No. 12522239125 on British Airways from Canada to Lagos, Nigeria at the SAHCO Import Shed,a customs area of Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja
Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without lawful authority procured Elisha Williams Lar of Wilz Reliance Solutions Logistics Company and Duruaku Amanda of Haut Logistics to import 3.20 Kilograms of Cannabis, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (2)(d) and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, OWOLABI JOSEPH AYODELE, Male, Adult on or about the 12% day of February, 2026, during the inward clearance of cargo with Airway Bill No. 12522239125 on British Airways from Canada to Lagos, Nigeria at ‘the SAHCO Import Shed, a customs area of Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without lawful authority imported 3.20 kilograms of Cannabis, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin _and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 , Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”