COURT JAILS TWO LADIPO TRADERS FIVE YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, ORDERS FORFEITURE OF VEHICLES

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

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 55.60 kilograms of cannabis sativa, popularly known as marijuana.

The duo were convicted after pleading guilty to an amended charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) 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, identifying the vehicles as a grey Toyota Sienna and an ash-coloured Hyundai Veloster.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Following their guilty plea, the prosecution urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly, as well as order the forfeiture of the vehicles used in the crime.

Defence counsel, Bolanle Kolawole, pleaded for leniency, describing the convicts as first-time offenders with no prior criminal records. She urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence, noting that they had shown remorse.

However, Justice Aluko held that the gravity of the offence warranted a custodial sentence despite the plea for mercy.

The court sentenced each of the convicts to five years’ imprisonment but gave them the option of a N2 million fine in lieu of the jail term.

Justice Aluko also ordered the final forfeiture of the two vehicles used in the trafficking to the Federal Government of Nigeria.