A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced two men, Ugwuja Ejiofor and Okon Christopher, to a total of four years and four months in prison for trafficking 58.6 kilograms of cannabis sativa, also known as Indian hemp.
Justice Musa Kakaki gave the sentences after both men admitted guilt to separate charges from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Ugwuja faced two charges for conspiracy and illegal importation of 56 kilograms of cannabis sativa. Okon faced one charge for illegal dealing in 2.6 kilograms of the banned substance.
The NDLEA prosecutor, Peter Ekuri, told the court that Ugwuja, 35, and a partner named Sammy, who is still at large, planned to bring in 56 kilograms of cannabis sativa from Accra, Ghana, into Nigeria on February 19, 2026.
Ekuri said this action was taken without legal permission and was discovered in Lagos.
He also stated that Okon, 37, was caught on May 30, 2026, at the Ladipo Canal area in Mushin, Lagos, for illegally dealing in 2.6 kilograms of cannabis sativa.
These actions broke 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.
After the men pleaded guilty, the prosecutor presented the details of the cases, submitted evidence, and asked the court to convict and sentence them.
The lawyers for the convicts, G.U. Okaka and Chief Lilian Omotunde, asked the court to show mercy, saying their clients are first-time offenders without any past criminal records.
In his ruling, Justice Kakaki convicted both men based on their guilty pleas.
He sentenced Ugwuja to two years in prison for each of the two counts, or a total fine of N10 million.
Okon received a four-month prison sentence, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
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