Two Traders Jailed 5 Years For Trafficking In 55.60kg Of Marijuana
Two traders at the popular Ladipo market, Lagos, Ezeifeoma Obinna Michael and Philip Ucheka, were today convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment each, for trafficking in 55.60 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa popularly called marijuana by a Federal High Court, Lagos.
Both Michael and Ucheka were given the jail-term by Justice Akintayo Aluko who presided over the court, after they both pleaded guilty to an amended count-charge slammed on them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a charge marked FHC/L/216C/2026.
The prosecutor, Barrister Peter Ekuri, while arraigning the two convicts, informed the court that were arrested with the prohibited drug on November 27, 2025, at popular Ladipo Spare Parts market.
He told the court that the convicted men hid the drug in two vehicles, a Gray Coloured Toyota Sienna with Chassis Number: 5TDZK23C475079926, and an Ash Coloured Hyundai Veloster with Registration Number: MUS 318 FC and Chassis Number: KMHTC6D5CU081675:
He told the court that the convicts’ action contravened section Section 11(b) of the National Drug Lav Enforcement Agency Agt, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and punishable under the same Act.
The convicts admitted committing the illegal act and pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
Following their plea of guilt, the prosecutor prayed the court to convict and sentence them according to their plea, exhibits tendered and ….
He also prayed the court to forfeit the two vehicles used in smuggling the drug.
But the lawyer to the convicts, Barrister Bolanle Kolawole, in her allocutor, pleaded with the court for mercy, saying that her clients are first time offenders without any previous records of conviction.
She also prayed the court to give her convicted clients a non-custodian sentence, saying that they have promised not to engage in criminal acts
Justice Aluko after listening to the counsel allocutor, and after confirming from the prosecutor that the convicts are first time offender, and after citing series of legal authorites, sentenced each of the convicts to five years imprisonment.
The judge however ordered each of the convicts to pay the sum N2 million in lieu of the jail-term.
Justice Aluko also ordered final forfeiture of the two vehicles used in commiting the crimes to the Federal government of Nigeria.
The charge against the convicts read: “That you EZEIFEOMA OBINNA MICHAEL “M” 41 years old-and PHILIP UCHEKA “M” 38 Years old, on or about the 27 day of November, 2025, at Ladipo Market, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, Trafficked 55.60 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, a Narcotic Drug similar to Cocaine, LSD and Heroin via a Gray Coloured Toyota Sienna with Chassis Number: 5TDZK23C475079926, and an Ash Coloured Hyundai Veloster with Registration Number: MUS 318 FC and Chassis Number: KMHTC6D5CU081675: and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Lav Enforcement Agency Agt, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
