A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday convicted and sentenced two men, Ugwuja Ejiofor and Okon Christopher, to a combined four years and four months’ imprisonment for trafficking 58.6 kilograms of cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.
Justice Musa Kakaki handed down the sentences after the defendants pleaded guilty to separate charges filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Ugwuja was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful importation of 56 kilograms of cannabis sativa, while Okon faced a one-count charge of unlawful dealing in 2.6 kilograms of the prohibited substance.
The NDLEA prosecutor, Peter Ekuri, told the court that Ugwuja, 35, and an accomplice identified as Sammy, who remains at large, conspired to import 56 kilograms of cannabis sativa from Accra, Ghana, into Nigeria on February 19, 2026.
According to the prosecutor, the offence was committed without lawful authority and was uncovered in Lagos.
Ekuri further told the court that Okon, 37, was arrested on May 30, 2026, at the Ladipo Canal area of Mushin, Lagos, for unlawfully dealing in 2.6 kilograms of cannabis sativa.
He said the offences contravened Sections 14(a), 11(a), and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the defendants’ guilty pleas, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered exhibits and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Counsel for the convicts, G.U. Okaka and Chief Lilian Omotunde, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, describing their clients as first-time offenders with no previous criminal records.
In his judgement, Justice Kakaki convicted both men based on their guilty pleas.
The judge sentenced Ugwuja to two years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts, with an option of a total fine of N10m.
Okon was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
