Trader Jailed For Trafficking In Tramadol 

Trader Jailed For Trafficking In Tramadol

A trader in Alaba-Rago, Lagos, Ayuba Shittu, has been convicted and sentenced by a Federal High Court, Lagos, for unlawful dealing in 1.606 kilograms of tramadol, a prohibited analgesic.

The 31 years old trader, was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment, by Justice Deinde Dipeolu, after he pleaded guilty to a count charge made against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a charge marked FHC/L/619c/2025.

The prosecutor, Julian Negedu, while arraigning the convicted trader, informed the court that he was arrested on July 10, 2025, in the Alaba-Rago market, where he concealed the prohibited analgesic in two Public Address System speakers.

 

Upon being arraigned before the court on the charge, the convicted trader pleaded guilty to the charge.

Based on his guilty plea, the prosecutor, while citing section 247(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, pleaded with the court to convict and sentence him based on his plea, exhibits tendered and is confessional statement.

But the convict’s lawyer, Godwin O. Okaka, in his allucutor, urged the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

Okaka pleaded with the court to consider his client’s early guilty plea as a sign of remorse. Adding that his client has vowed not to engage in any form of crimes.

In his judgment, Justice Dipeolu after confirming from the prosecutor that the convict did not have record of previous crime, sentenced him to three months imprisonment.

The judge however ordered the convicted trader to pay a fine of N3 million in lieu of the jail-term.

The charge against the convicted trader reads: “that you Ayuba Shittu, Male, 34 years old on or about the 10 July, 2025, Alaba-Rago, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court w lawful authority dealt in 1.606 Kilograms of Tramadol, narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD and thereby committed an offence contrary punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”