LAGOS – Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Komolafe Gbenga John, a manager at a Netherlands-based freight agency, to 12 months in prison for his role in the illegal importation of over 106 kilograms of synthetic drugs.
The conviction follows a legal battle initiated by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after John was apprehended during an interception at the Tin Can Island Port in Apapa.
According to the prosecution, the convict's run with the law ended on November 7, 2025, at the Customs Enforcement Unit.
During a routine inspection, the NDLEA uncovered a massive stash of illicit substances concealed within imported cargo. The seized consignment included: 105.5 kilograms of Molly (MDMA), 500 grams of Methamphetamine
Under Nigerian law, these substances are categorised as highly dangerous psychotropic drugs, carrying the same legal weight and penalties as cocaine and heroin.
During the court proceedings, John pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of unlawful importation. In a candid confession, he admitted that this was not an isolated incident.
He revealed that he had been working in tandem with his employer, a Dutch national based in the Netherlands, who regularly shipped the narcotics to him for distribution to various recipients across Nigeria.
The prosecuting counsel, Adekunle Adebajo, presented the exhibits and John’s voluntary confession, urging the court to apply the full weight of the law.
In response, the defence counsel, Uche Okoronkwo, filed an allocutus, pleading for mercy.
Okoronkwo argued that John was a victim of circumstances and had shown significant remorse.
He cited judicial precedents to plead for a non-custodial sentence, which would have allowed the convict to avoid jail time.
Justice Ogazi, however, rejected the plea for a non-custodial sentence, citing the gravity of the offence and the volume of the drugs involved.
"The court sentences the defendant to 12 months’ imprisonment," Justice Ogazi ruled.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the judge imposed a N1 million fine.
The court also held that the convict will be required to serve an additional four months in a correctional facility if he fails to pay the fine.
The offences were noted to be in direct violation of Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act, which strictly prohibits the importation of such substances without lawful authority.
#DrugTrafficking #LagosCourt #TinCanIsland #MollySeizure #NigeriaNews #LegalJustice
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