Canada returnee bags 11-year jail over cannabis trade

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A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a Canada returnee, Abimbola Daniel, to 11 years’ imprisonment for unlawfully importing and possessing 2.5kg of cannabis.

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Justice Akintayo Aluko handed down the sentence on Monday after Daniel pleaded guilty to a two-count charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

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The charge, marked FHC/LAG/CR/609/2026, bordered on unlawful importation and possession of cannabis.

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The prosecutor, Arit Okon, told the court that Daniel imported the prohibited drug into Nigeria from Canada aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

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Okon said the cannabis was concealed in cargo covered by waybill number 07161185795.

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According to the prosecutor, Daniel also engaged Afriway Cargo and Logistics, located at 20B, Anthony Udo Avenue, International Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos, to clear the consignment.

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The convict was reportedly arrested when he went to collect the consignment following its arrival in Nigeria.

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The prosecutor said the investigations conducted after his arrest led to his arraignment on the two-count charge.

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According to NDLEA, the offences committed contravened Sections 11(2) and 20(1) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and are punishable under Section 20(2) of the Act.

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When the charges were read to him, Daniel admitted committing the offences and pleaded guilty.

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Following his plea, the prosecution, through an exhibit keeper with the NDLEA, Abdullahi Musa, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the exhibits, which were admitted by the court.

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The prosecution subsequently urged the court to convict and sentence Daniel based on his guilty plea, the evidence before the court and relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

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However, counsel for the convict, Benson Ndakara, leading Dennis Warri, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

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The defence urged the court to consider Daniel’s early guilty plea and the fact that he had no previous criminal conviction.

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The lawyers also relied on Sections 311(2)(c) and 412(2)(c) of the ACJA 2015 in urging the court to impose a non-custodial sentence.

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After considering the submissions of both parties and the authorities cited, Justice Aluko sentenced Daniel to five years’ imprisonment on the first count and six years on the second count.

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The judge, however, gave him the option of a fine of N500,000 on the first count and N600,000 on the second count instead of the custodial sentences.

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The charges stated that Daniel, on July 14, 2026, during the inward clearance of cargo with waybill number 07161185795 on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Canada at the Customs Import Shed, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, unlawfully imported 2.5kg of cannabis.

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He was also alleged to have, on July 15, 2026, at Afriway Cargo and Logistics, Ajao Estate, Ikeja, Lagos, unlawfully possessed 2.5kg of cannabis.

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