Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced America-trained Nollywood filmmaker Mbadiwe Emmanuel Emeka to five years in prison for trafficking 17.30 kilograms of Canada Loud, a potent strain of Cannabis Sativa.
The judge delivered the ruling after Emeka pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful drug importation, charges filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Counsel for the NDLEA, Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that Emeka was arrested on December 24, 2024, during an inspection of an incoming cargo shipment at the National Handling Company (NAHCO) Import Shed, situated within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The cargo, which arrived from Houston, United States, was found to contain the banned narcotic.
Further investigations revealed that Emeka had recruited Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to facilitate the illegal importation.
According to the prosecution, his actions violated Section 21(1)(e) and were punishable under Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecution presented evidence, which included: The bulk of the seized drug, his confessional statements, his iPhone Pro Max 12, and other exhibits linked to the case.
After reviewing the evidence, the prosecution urged the court to convict and sentence Emeka based on his admission of guilt and the overwhelming proof.
Emeka’s lawyer, Dennis Warri, pleaded for leniency, emphasizing his client's remorse, early guilty plea, and cooperation with investigators.
He urged the court to consider a noncustodial sentence or, alternatively, allow a fine option in place of imprisonment.
After weighing both arguments, Justice Lewis-Allagoa sentenced Emeka to five years in prison but provided an alternative such that he could pay a fine of N3 million instead of serving the jail term.
The court ordered the forfeiture of the seized drug and Emeka’s iPhone Pro Max 12 to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).
According to the charges, on December 24, 2024, at the NAHCO Import Shed, Emeka procured one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James to import 17.30 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, violating Section 21(1)(e) of the NDLEA Act.
He was also accused of unlawfully importing the drug without legal authority, in breach of Section 20(1)(a) of the same Act.
Both offences are punishable under the NDLEA Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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