Two traders at Lagos’ popular Ladipo Spare Parts Market have been sentenced to five years imprisonment each for trafficking 55.60 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as marijuana.
Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos, handed down the sentence on Ezeifeoma Obinna Michael, 41, and Philip Ucheka, 38, after both men pleaded guilty to an amended one-count charge brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in charge number FHC/L/216C/2026.
According to the NDLEA prosecutor, Peter Ekuri, the convicts were arrested on November 27, 2025, at Ladipo Market with the prohibited substance.
The court heard that Michael and Ucheka concealed the drugs inside two vehicles: a grey Toyota Sienna with Chassis Number 5TDZK23C475079926 and an ash-colored Hyundai Veloster with Registration Number MUS 318 FC and Chassis Number KMHTC6D5CU081675.
The prosecutor told the court that their actions violated Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
After pleading guilty, defence counsel, Bolanle Kolawole urged the court for leniency, noting that both men were first-time offenders with no prior convictions.
She requested a non-custodial sentence, stating the traders had vowed not to engage in criminal acts again.
Justice Aluko confirmed their first-offender status but sentenced each man to five years in prison.
The judge, however, gave them an option of a fine, ordering each convict to pay N2 million in place of jail time.
The court also ordered the final forfeiture of both vehicles used in committing the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The charge read: “That you EZEIFEOMA OBINNA MICHAEL ‘M’ 41 years old and PHILIP UCHEKA ‘M’ 38 Years old, on or about the 27th 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.”
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